State received raw deal from the Center on Development: Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, Feb 26 (UNI) Strongly supporting the agitation launched by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists across the state against injustice, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy warned that the agitation may take different turn if no actions are initiated to solve the grievances.

Addressing the party workers at the JD(S) convention here, he said that the issues which saw a raw deal from the Centre would be raised during Assembly election campaign.

Mr Kumaraswamy charged that whether it was BJP or Congress when in power at the center have shown step-motherly treatment towards Karnataka.

Coming down heavily on national parties, Mr Kumaraswamy alleged that the Center has always rendered injustice to Karnataka as for as sharing of Krishna and Cauvery river waters. "Always either it is Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh which benefited in Cauvery and Krishna water dispute by applying their political pressure on center".

"We can not expect justice from either Sonia Gandhi or L K Advani" Mr Kumaraswamy said.

Charging that every year thousands of crore worth of Iron ore was being mined out from the state in Bellary district, Mr Kumaraswamy said that a handful of mine owners numbering 15 to 20 were indulged in amassing wealth of over Rs 2600 to 3000 crore by emptying mines every year.

Announcing that if JD(S) comes to power it will apply a break for looting valuable natural resources, Mr Kumaraswamy announced that "All mines in Karnataka will be nationalised in the interests of the state if my party comes to power in the coming elections", he added.

Expressing confidence that party will come to power on its own strength, Mr Kumaraswamy said that JD(S) was expected to win a minimum 120 to 130 assembly seats in the coming elections.

Stating that when in power he had tried to address several problems of the state but his alliance partner BJP has acted as a stumbling block during his 20-month tenure. "By scripting Rs 150 crore Bellary Mine bribe the BJP tried to blackmail me" Mr Kumaraswamy charged.

UNI MV MSP GM1918