Mangaluru: Ahead of Vidhan Sabha polls, JD(S) striving to gain support in coastal belt, Former Chief Minister and JD(S) state President HD Kumaraswamy berated Congress government related to law and order, disruption of communal harmony and yettinahole project while addressing a press meet at Circuit house here on Thursday.

Contemplating on present disrupted social harmony and brotherhood the JD(S) will hold a massive convention ‘JD(S) Nadige Sauhardatheya Edege’ at Nehru Maidan, on January 12. “Our coastal region, especially Dakshina Kannada has been continuously gaining a name in communal violence. Some people who have some hidden agendas are behind this. So with a message of peace in this region, we are organising the harmony march. This march is not limited to one district but targets the entire coastal belt,” he said.

HD Kumaraswamy claimed the yettinahole project is initiated to loot the tax payer’s money, it is a big scam and many have looted money from this and will reveal the names of persons who are indulged in this scam.

“Though the Congress leaders had assured of providing water to parched regions of the state in 2014, within one year, despite the government completing five years, the promise has not been fulfilled and the people continue to suffer without water. “At least the water from the Yettinahole project has not reached Sakleshpur, the work is completely hindered without any progress despite the government spending Rs 2800 crores,” he added.

Slamming both congresses and BJP on the yettinahole project said If JD(S) comes to power, we will sort this issue without harming the interest of citizens and many people will be behind bars.

“D V Sadananda Gowda led BJP government had given the approval for the Yettinahole project. Then Congress government upheld the project and assured the people of Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and Tumakuru that they will get water within a year. But even after four years, they have not completed the project. At the same time, they did not care for the requests from the people of Dakshina Kannada and kept the project going. They know very well that the people of both sides have their own demands. This project will help BJP and Congress to gain politically and financially,” he alleged.

Commenting on various schemes of Congress lead government, he said, “In five years of Congress rule, 3500 farmers committed suicide in the state. Along with the populist announcement of their programmes, they can also include ‘Athmahathya Baghya’ as their contribution to the farmers in the state,” he said questioning that if the government has waived off-farm loan up-to Rs 8000 crore, then why are the farmers still committing suicide.

JD(S) State Secretary B M Farooq and JD(S) leaders Amarnath Shetty and Ashwin J Pereira were also present at the meet.