Mangaluru: Senior Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary performed a suprise and unannounced”Urulu Seve” to stop the Yettinahole project, at the Gokarnanatheshwara Temple here, on October 16.
Janardhan Poojary took the lead to perform the Urulu Seve. Later, four more persons joined him. A prayer service was held to Lord Shiva for sufficient rains and also to bless the Chief Minister of Karnataka, the Prime Minister, MLAs, MPs and the ministers of the state to change their minds and stop the Yettinahole project.
Addressing the mediapersons, Poojary said, “I have not informed anyone that I will perform an Urulu Seve. Through the media, people have been aware of the Yettinahole project and are protesting against it. It is the duty of the state and central governments to solve the problem but the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister, the MLAs and MPs are not taking any action.”
“If there is any problem, the government should take a firm decision to solve the problem. In Kolar, Doddaballapur, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur and Bengaluru, there is not even one TMC of water. Now they are trying to turn bring drought to Mangaluru. Already Kolar, Doddaballapur, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur are facing drought. MP Nalin Kumar is fighting against the Yettinahole project but without any positive response fron the central government. Why is Sadananda Gowda not listening to him? Is he not from his own party and his hometown Puttur?” he questioned.
When asked if he would attend the meeting of the chief minister with all the ministers and the officers from the district on October 19, Poojary replied, “I will not attend any meeting regarding Yettinahole project. I strongly demand that the project be stopped.”
He further recalled, “The Supreme Court declared that Article 368 did not enable Parliament to alter the basic structure or framework of the Constitution and Parliament could not use its amending powers under Article 368 to ‘damage’, ’emasculate’, ‘destroy’, ‘abrogate’, ‘change’ or ‘alter’ the ‘basic structure’ or framework of the constitution. This decision is not just a landmark in the evolution of constitutional law, but a turning point in constitutional history.”
He also said that the people of Dakshina Kannada should not suffer due to water scarcity. “Likewise the people of Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Tumkur should also not suffer. The government should find a permanent solution to solve the water problem of Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Tumkur. We pray that prime minister Modi and chief minister Siddaramaiah change their minds and stop the project. It is now in the hands of Modi to stop the project. The people of Kolar should also pray for good rains and to change the mindset of the CM and PM.”
“If democracy is alive in the country it is because of the media. If the people are against the project, why is the government and its elected members not taking any initiative to stop it? Why Doesn’t the BJP MP has the courage to stand in front of Modi and request him to stop the project?” he questioned.
When asked why the state ministers and MLAs do not have the courage to speak in front of the CM, Poojary said, “Let them discuss the issue with the chief minister and pressurise him to stop the project.”
When asked what he would do if the CM convinces the ministers and MLAs to continue the project, Poojary said that all the ministers and MLAs should be firm in their decision to stop the project.
For the demand of the protesters for a separate state if the project will not be stopped. Poojary said that Karnataka should remain as a single state and the state should not be divided for any reason. “Only with unity we can achieve our goals and develop the state.” he said
When asked if there is a demand for the resignation of the CM, Poojary said that he did not have any comments to make on it. He also said that every 12 years, a Brahmakalashotsava is held, the last being held in 2012. “But this year, there is no sufficient water in the district. For good rains and to stop the Yettinahole project, we have performed a Brahmakalashotsava. Let Lord Shiva change the minds of the PM, the CM and all the state ministers to stop the project,” he added.
Once more bringing PM Modiji’s name in the controversy of Yettina Hole project shows the mind set of Congress. If Shriman Poojary would have presented himself at Pumpwell Protest, then all the DK people would have appreciated him openly. His acts of protest shows that he is almost retired in Politics.
What we need is political action, not urulu seve or prayers!! Unfortunately, both BJP and Congress have fooled mangaluru public when it comes to yettinahole project. In a way, mangaluru city folks, notoriously known for ‘vote bank’ politics, fully deserve this. Get ready to live with less water and more hardship during peak summer season in coming years!!
Namaskara, O.R.Pai-maam,
You are right in saying, “1.What we need is political action, not urulu seve or prayers!; 2. both BJP and Congress have fooled mangaluru public when it comes to yettinahole project”.
Btw, whether this “urulu seve” does become a penal offence under the “Anti-Superstition Bill” brought earlier by Sidde-ramaiah’s Congress Govt in Karnataka?
I am well aware that my above comment may invite brick-bats in capital letters from our EYT forum’s “Dev Kant Barooah” (Cong “hogalu bhata”) with pin-code removed nowadays 🙂
D.K. Barooah is welcome to give legal clarification being a non-practicing Advocate in Kumbala!