Bengaluru, March 5: Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, alleging that instead of providing river water to the drought-prone districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur, authorities have diverted Bengaluruโs sewage water into the region.
Speaking at the JDS state office, JP Bhavan, during the induction of Malur leader Hoodi Vijay Kumar and the merger of the Swabhimani Janata Party into the JDS, Deve Gowda said the people of the two districts had been promised river water but were instead receiving contaminated water from the capital.
He claimed that Kolar, once globally known for its tomatoes, is now facing a situation where people warn against consuming the produce due to concerns about polluted water affecting agriculture. According to him, the discharge of sewage water and the policies of the Congress government have severely impacted the region.
The former Prime Minister also recalled the financial situation of the state during his tenure as Chief Minister, stating that when he assumed office, the state treasury had been left empty. He said the then Chief Minister Veerappa Moily had even borrowed โน200 crore from the Peerless company in Kolkata to pay government employeesโ salaries.
Gowda further criticised the Congress leadership, remarking that some leaders who served in his cabinet as finance ministers were well aware of the financial challenges faced by the state at the time.
Turning to the recent political developments, he said H.D. Kumaraswamyโs โPancharatnaโ programme, which promised free housing, education, healthcare and employment, was a comprehensive development agenda. However, he alleged that Congress won the election by announcing last-minute guarantees and free schemes that attracted voters.
โToday the same government is complaining that these guarantees are becoming a burden on the state treasury,โ he said.
Gowda asserted that the JDS remains strong and will continue to expand its base while remaining committed to the NDA alliance. He said the entry of leaders like Hoodi Vijay Kumar marks the beginning of strengthening the party organisation in the region and across the state.
