Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Vidhana Soudha wears a desolate look

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore Oct. 9. Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power of the State Government, remained deserted for the third day on Wednesday. With most ministers accompanying the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, on his padayatra, there were hardly any visitors.

Many of the rooms on second and third floors of the building were closed, and people who came from different parts of the State to meet leaders were sent back by the security personnel at the four entry points.

Many people were unhappy over the fact that they had to wait for a few more days to meet the ministers.

When asked about the absence of most of the ministers, the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, D.B.Chandre Gowda, said that the Chief Minister had told them not to follow him on his padayatra.

In fact, Mr. Krishna had asked the ministers to go to their districts and celebrate three years of Congress rule in the State. Mr. Krishna told them to inform the people about the Government's achievements, Mr. Gowda said.

To a question on the alleged neglect of the people of Bagalkot, who are suffering due to the submergence of the town following the storage of water up to 519.6 metres in the Alamatti Dam, and "too much" importance being given to farmers in the Cauvery Basin, Mr. Gowda said the Chief Minister would visit the town soon.

Mr. Krishna was to have visited Bagalkot on October 8, but the visit was put off due to several developments, including the filing of a contempt petition by the Tamil Nadu Government in the Supreme Court.

On the demand of the Opposition and the President of the Karnataka Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti, G. Made Gowda, that the Chief Minister discontinue the padayatra, Mr. Gowda said the Chief Minister would decide on it on October 12 after the public meeting at Mandya.

Reacting to the criticism by the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, on the release of 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, Mr. Gowda said all decisions on the issue were taken after consulting the Opposition. Mr. Deve Gowda, who reportedly played an important role in convincing the Prime Minister, A.B.Vajpayee, to convene the meeting of the Cauvery River Authority, knew everything, Mr. Gowda added.

The Union Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, H.N.Ananth Kumar, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, and the Janata Dal (S) had then hailed Mr. Vajpayee's decision, but were raising objections now, the minister said.

The CRA order contained conditions on the water release, he said.

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