Hassan/Bengaluru: A three-day special session of the legislature beginning Monday is expected to witness a confrontation between governing Congress and BJP-JD(S) opposition over drought, Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats and the controversy over govt order on the truncated version of Vande Mataram at state functions.Chief minister DK Shivakumar said although govt was ready for a discussion on drought, the opposition disrupted the monsoon session. He said the special session offers a second opportunity to debate the issue.“Centre has given us time till Sept 27 to file objections on Kasturirangan report,” Shivakumar said in Saklespur. “While the previous govt under CM Siddaramaiah had already rejected the report, Centre dismissed our objections and sent it back for our response. Considering the report hurts livelihoods of our people, we have decided to call for a special session. At the last session, politics was more important for BJP, and farmers’ issues could not be discussed. Let BJP do their politics. We will work to find answers for our people’s livelihoods.”He said govt was committed to raising issues concerning people and was holding public interactions in Western Ghats districts including Hassan, Mysuru, Kodagu and Udupi. “We will decide the next course of action during the legislature session,” he said.However, opposition leader R Ashoka demanded that the session be extended to a week. He said BJP-JD(S) opposition was ready for a debate but demanded that govt demonstrate its commitment to addressing drought before the session.He claimed farmers were facing distress due to crop losses and said the opposition had sought compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre and Rs 10 crore for emergency water works.“On one hand, CM is touring the state and announcing projects worth thousands of crores and on the other, there is no money for immediate relief for drought-affected farmers. This is not a govt of development; it is a govt of announcements,” he alleged.On Kasturirangan report, Ashoka said BJP opposed its implementation in Karnataka. “Conservation of Western Ghats is extremely important but excessive restrictions should not be imposed on agriculture, infrastructure and livelihoods of people in Malnad in the name of environmental protection,” he said.On Vande Mataram, Ashoka did not say whether the issue would be raised during the session but sought clarity from Congress.Meanwhile, reacting to Union minister HD Kumaraswamy calling him ‘touring talkies’, Shivakumar said criticism is natural in politics, and he will take it in “a positive spirit”.“What is wrong with what he (Kumaraswamy) said? He has experience. If he has good suggestions, let us accept them too,” Shivakumar said.Shivakumar said he has been CM for only hundred days, and that he comes from a humble family background. He said he does not take criticism from seniors personally.
