Union ministers from K’taka to meet every fortnight, says Joshi

Team Udayavani, Jun 2, 2019, 10:39 AM IST

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Bengaluru: Seeking opposition’s cooperation in the smooth conduct of the upcoming Lok Sabha session, newly-appointed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday said the government was ready for discussion on any issue.

The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha will be held from June 17 to July 26, with the regular budget to be presented on July 5.

“I request all the opposition parties, people have given unprecedented mandate in favour of Narendra Modi and the BJP. For five years lets successfully conduct the sessions and discuss on issues. The government is ready for discussion on any issue,” Mr Joshi said.

Speaking to reporters on his visit to the city after taking over as minister, he said it is common belief that in the Lok Sabha there should be debates, discussions and not disruptions.

“So following the peoples mandate let’s all work together- is our request to all the opposition parties. In the days to come we will call a meeting in this regard, so I seek their cooperation,” Mr Joshi said.

He pointed out that there are four ministers from Karnataka in the Modi cabinet and they would meet once in 15 days and discuss on Karnataka related issues and follow up.

“We want to protect the interest of Karnataka. That’s our decision,” he said, adding that the big result to the BJP led by PM Modi was a huge responsibility, “as expectations of people are very high.”

Karnataka Lok Sabha members– Pralhad Joshi, DV Sadananda Gowda (Chemical and Fertilizer) and Suresh Angadi (MoS Railway) were inducted into the ministry Thursday, apart from Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), who is a Rajya Sabha lawmaker from the state.

Responding to a question on the Mahadayi river water issue, he said both the Karnataka and Goa governments have sought clarification and have appealed to the Supreme Court on the matter.

“… let Karnataka government call an all-party meeting and legal experts, if they want notification, we will participate in it. Legal experts, who had represented Karnataka, had earlier said since both states have filed an appeal, it cannot be done. But if experts say it is possible, let’s try, we have no objection,” he said.

Mahadayi river tribunal had delivered its verdict allocating 13.5 tmc ft of water to Karnataka.

As all three riparian states (Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra) have sought clarifications from the tribunal on its final judgment and as states have also gone to the Supreme Court against it, the centre has refused to notify the tribunals verdict citing legalities.

When pointed out that a BJP government was in power in Goa, Mr Joshi said parties in the states would take a stand for their state.

Earlier, too, Congress governments were there at the centre, at Goa and here, he said.

“The Mahadayi issue did not crop up after Modi came or Pralhad Joshi,” he said.

Asked if the Prime Minister would intervene and solve the issue at this stage, Mr Joshi, without giving any direct response, blamed the Congress for taking the matter to the tribunal.

The minister, who also holds the coal department portfolio, said there would not be any shortage in supply of coal.

“…there is minimum stock of 15-16 days everywhere, whatever demand comes that will be supplied,” he added.

On a query by PTI that a report was submitted by a Congress leader to the party leadership alleging that the BJP had distributed money to win the Tumkur Lok Sabha seat, Mr Joshi said the Congress should stop levelling such “wild allegations”, especially after the people have rejected them in the polls.

Former prime minister and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda faced defeat from the seat. BJP’s candidate GS Basavaraj won by a margin of over 13,000 votes.

“What have they done (distributed money) in Mandya, Hassan, Bengaluru Rural and Tumkur? The people of the state know very well. Let us not talk about it. The people have already given the mandate and the time is now to work,” he told PTI.

On the Karnataka government, Mr Joshi said, “We have told many times, we don’t need to do anything. They will collapse on their own.”

Asked what the options were for the BJP if the JD(S)-Congress government falls, Mr Joshi said “There are many options. The BJP is the single largest party in the state. We will explore all options when the time comes, including going for fresh elections.”

On AIMIM chief and Hyderabad lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi’s remarks that the BJP sees terrorists wherever there are Muslims, Mr Joshi said it is inappropriate to link Hyderabad to Muslims.

“Why should Owaisi link Hyderabad to Muslims when our cabinet minister from Telangana, Kishan Reddy, referred to Hyderabad. He did not mention or target Muslims, but terrorists,” he said.

Newly-appointed Union Minister of State for Home, Kishan Reddy has reportedly alleged that whenever a terrorism-related incident takes place in the country, its roots are traced to Hyderabad. Mr Owaisi criticised him for the remarks.