BIJAPUR: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh on Tuesday accused Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of trying to take credit for the implementation of the prestigious Upper Krishna Project (UKP) by misrepresenting the fact on the formation of the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. (KBJNL).

Referring to Mr. Kumaraswamy's speech at the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) dedication ceremony held at Alamatti Dam site on Monday, Mr. Dharam Singh said the former gave an impression that KBJNL was a brainchild of his father and the former Chief Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

The fact remained that the nigam was started on August 19, 1994. M. Veerappa Moily was the Chief Minister and S.M. Krishna was the Irrigation Minister. It was because of the farsightedness of Congress leaders that the KBJNL came into existence and the measure helped expedite the project, he said.

Mr. Dharam Singh said he was ready to have an open debate on the resources pooled during the tenures of different leaders. All the successive Chief Ministers from S. Nijalingappa to himself contributed to the realisation of the project in their own way.

UKP was one of the four biggest irrigation projects in the country. The Government should have shown a minimum courtesy of inviting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Referring to a television interview, Mr. Singh said Mr. Kumaraswamy asked why they should invite a Congress Prime Minister. It was unbecoming of a Chief Minister to make such statements. Mr. Kumarswamy should understand that he was Chief of Karnataka not of his party. Asserting that the Congress was fully behind the Government in demanding relief from the Centre, he said the Government had with it Rs. 128 crore and should utilise it.

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