Top Congress leaders are set to arrive in Belagavi for the events marking the centenary of the Congress session chaired by Mahatma Gandhi. However, KPCC president and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has stated that only people outside the BJP are invited to attend these events.
Shivakumar, who is overseeing the organization of the events, including the unveiling of Gandhi’s statue and the convention titled ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, and Jai Samvidhan,’ announced that AICC president M. Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi will be in Belagavi on January 21. They will participate in the statue unveiling at the Suvarna Soudha and the subsequent convention.
“The preparations are in full swing. Ministers K.H. Muniyappa and M.C. Sudhakar, assigned specific tasks, are already in Belagavi. G. Parameshwara will join soon, and they are working efficiently,” Shivakumar told reporters.
When asked about the expected turnout, Shivakumar said: “We have invited the public to the event. Anyone can attend. I can’t predict the number of attendees. This convention focuses on Gandhiji, B.R. Ambedkar, and the Constitution. The only exception is BJP members; everyone else who believes in protecting the Constitution and Gandhiji’s ideals is welcome.”
On the alleged diversion of 5 tmcft of water from the Hidkal reservoir to the Dharwad Industrial Area, Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, responded that Hukkeri legislator Nikhil Katti had raised concerns, and he had requested a report. “We will take action once we receive the report. If we can’t provide 5 tmcft of water to Bengaluru, how can it be done here? Official permissions are needed for any water release, and there are specific calculations for agricultural or industrial use,” he stated.
Shivakumar added, “We have increased the user fee for water supplied to industries. The Centre has issued new guidelines on water policy, which we will refer to in the next legislature session.”
