JD(S) blames BJP for power crisis in K'taka

Bangalore, Nov 10 (UNI) Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal(Secular) State President H D Kumaraswamy today blamed the BJP Government for the present power crisis.

Speaking to newspersons after assuming as the new state JD(S) president, Mr Kumraswamy alleged that BJP MP's and Legislators had tried their best to scuttle two Thermal Power Projects, envisaged for commissioning in the state.

He said that when he was the Chief Minister he had taken the initiative to start Nagarjuna Thermal Power Project in Dakshina Kannada district and another Hydal power project at Tadadi in Uttara Kannada district, which were strongly opposed by the BJP workers and leaders.

The multi-crore power project envisaged to generate more than 1500-MW did not materialise due to opposition from BJP.

''It is the BJP, which was responsible for the present power crisis being faced by the people of the state'' he charged.

Ridiculing the state government announcement to supply free power to farmers, Mr Kumaraswamy said the ''BJP government is not in a position even to provide power to those, who were willing to pay.'' ''When I was the Chief Minister heading JD(S)-BJP coalition we also faced similar situation and when we appointed a sub-committee to decide on load-shedding and requested Mr B S Yeddyurappa to head it, he instead of accepting it ran away from the Cabinet meeting'' Mr Kumaraswamy alleged.

Charging the BJP government with failing miserably to handle the power crisis, Mr Kumaraswamy alleged that ''Because of inefficiency of the Yeddyurappa government people of the state were in dark.'' He said,the ''Chief Minister in order to cover up his failure on the power front was blaming the Opposition parties.'' UNI MV ROY RL NS2031