CM confident of completing term

Mysore, July 30: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today exuded confidence that his coalition Government would withstand all ''efforts by the Opposition Congress to destabilise the Government''.

Speaking to newspersons here, he accused the Congress of trying to defame the popular Government.

Refuting former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's charge that revenue growth in the excise department was nil in the current year, Mr Kumaraswamy said the revenue had crossed the target.

He asked Mr Siddaramaiah, who had held such a high office, to think twice before making statements against other leaders.

Referring to allegations by the Opposition parties that development works in the State had come to a standstill, Mr Kumaraswamy said the Government had taken up various developmental works, including Rs 150 crore worth works in Srirangapatna and Pandavapura and the Rs 120 crore work taken up in Athani in Northern Karnataka yesterday. He had convened a meeting of farmers and elected representatives in Bangalore tomorrow to discuss the ramifications of the proposed Upper Bhadra project and providing drinking water facilities to Chitradurga, Kolar and Tumkur districts, he added.

He said the JD(S) would field a candidate for the byelection to the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, which fell vacant following Mr Siddaramaiah resigning the seat prior to joining the Congress.

Later, the Chief Minister declared open a new police station here.

UNI