The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Give me 100 more days, says Kumaraswamy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 14, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Give me 100 more days, says Kumaraswamy

Special Correspondent

`More time needed to implement Government's promises'

100 DAYS: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (right) releasing a telephone directory brought out by the Bangalore Reporters' Guild at a meet-the-press programme in Bangalore on Saturday. Information Commissioner K.V.R. Tagore is seen. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said he needs another 100 days to implement the promises made by his Government to the people.

The Janata Dal (S)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition Government completed 100 days in office on Saturday.

The Government had already started releasing funds to implement development programmes outlined in the budget. "Give me another 100 days to show results," was the Chief Minister's plea at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Bangalore Reporters' Guild here on Saturday.

"A 100 days ago, the JD(S) and the BJP set aside their political differences and ideologies to forge a coalition with the sole, common resolve to strive in unison for the welfare of the State. We are committed to provide able, clean and well-coordinated governance," he said.

The coalition had proved wrong the allegation by the Congress, the main Opposition party, that the Ministry, loaded with inexperienced people, could not meet the aspirations of the people, he said. Steps would be initiated to tone up the administration. He sought some time to increase the efficiency of civil servants to work in accordance with the priorities of the coalition Government.

Centre blamed

The Chief Minister accused the Centre of neglecting various demands of the State for the past 58 years. He would soon meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and explain to him about the need for the Centre to intervene on various issues of concern to the State, he said. Despite various Chief Ministers leading all-party delegations to focus the Centre's attention on the raw deal given to the State in clearing development projects, nothing much had happened, he said.

The Centre's neglect of the State's needs had forced him to reconsider the usefulness of such delegations. The Congress was keeping on demanding that all-party delegations meet the Prime Minister on various issues, including the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, which has not taken off following objections from Goa.

The project is meant to provide drinking water to some of the districts in north Karnataka.

Criticising the Congress, which ruled the State for more than four decades and was also at the helm at the Centre, Mr. Kumaraswamy charged that the Centre seemed keener on clearing projects for Andhra Pradesh than the projects proposed by the State.

The Chief Minister ruled out the possibility of the State Government holding a dialogue with Tamil Nadu and other riparian States to find a settlement to the Cauvery water dispute. "I think it is impossible for holding a dialogue with the other riparian States at this stage," he said.

Refusing to reveal the stand the State would adopt on the water allocation formula to be evolved by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, he said the Government would not tolerate any injustice to its farmers. There was no change in the State's stand demanding a rightful share of Cauvery waters.

On the expansion of the Ministry, he said there was no pressure from MLAs to expedite the process. But it would be expanded soon, he said.

Asked the about violence that broke out in Bangalore after the death of Rajkumar, he just said the Youth Congress president had submitted a memorandum to the Governor stating that the Youth Congress workers had been arrested.

The police had arrested 750 persons in connection with the violence and booked cases, he said.

On encroachment of land in and around Bangalore city, he said the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Krishna, had constituted a House Committee to inquire into all land scams.

On giving more powers to the Lokayukta, he said the Cabinet would take a decision soon.

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