Belthangady: Opposing the State government’s move to divert Nethravathi river water to implement Yettinahole project, BJP MP from Dakshina Kannada Nalin Kumar Kateel vowed to take revolutionary steps to protect the river.
Speaking at Laila Gram Panchayath which falls enroute his proposed Rathyathra starting November 10, Nalin confirmed that he would not hesitate to resign as the Member of Parliament to save the river. River Nethravathi is close to heart of the people in Dakshina Kannada and is considered as its life line, as it passes through few important pilgrim centers in the district before it joins the Arabian Sea, said the MP.
Seeking support from all irrespective of party, caste and other affiliations for the 3-day Rathyathra, Nalin said, Mangaluru MLA J R Lobo, Veteran Congress leader Janardhan Poojary and Belthangady MLA Vasanth Bangera have extended their support for his movement.
The yathra will commence in the morning at Subramanya, a well known Hindu pilgrim centre and pass through Dharmasthala before concluding at Uppinangady. Acknowledging giving more importance to legal battle MP Nalin sounded confident of getting the judgment in the district’s favour.
Refusing to budge away from the agitation, MP Nalin warned the State government of revolutionary twist to the agitation, if the government fails to address the problem by convening a meeting of all stake holders on January 26.
He recalled victories for agitations on four other earlier issues and said that the agitation is not based on hatred, but only against the policies of the State government which is adamant in implementing the Yettinahole project.
