Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday assured the Legislative Assembly of leading an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi again to seek his intervention to facilitate a settlement for the inter-State Mahadayi river water dispute.
When Mr. Siddaramaiah accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, especially Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar, of remaining silent over the issue during the previous meeting with Mr. Modi and not making any attempt to find a solution to the crisis, there was heated debate between BJP and Congress members.
Finally, following a suggestion from Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, Mr. Siddaramaiah agreed to take an all-party delegation to meet Mr. Modi.
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In the Council, after a marathon discussion, arguments and counter-arguments with regard to seeking the Prime Minister’s intervention in resolving the dispute over Kalasa-Banduri drinking water scheme, Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy asked the Chief Minister, and ruling party and Opposition members to sit together and come out with an amicable solution.
Turning down the ruling party members’ attempt to adopt a resolution requesting the Prime Minister’s intervention, the Chairman said such a resolution could not be adopted in the Council as per rules. Raising the issue, JD(S) leader Basaravaj Horatti said the farmers’ protest implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project had crossed 224 days.