Will find solution to human-elephant conflict: HDK to people of Hassan

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has assured the people of Hassan that he will meet the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change to find a solution to the human-elephant conflict in the district to put an end to deaths of human beings in tusker attacks.

Responding to pleas from elected representatives of Hassan during the JD(S) rally in Hassan on January 24, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he is aware of the elephant menace prevailing in Hassan and during his tenure as Chief Minister, he granted funds for the construction of rail barricades, which could help obstruct the movement of elephants. “Recently, a woman died in an elephant attack in Sakleshpur taluk. I will invite a delegation of leaders from Hassan and take them to the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change,” he stated.

Former Ministers H.D. Revanna, H.K. Kumaraswamy, and others who spoke at the rally had raised the issue.

Development works

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda stated that his party is responsible for many development works in Hassan. However, two of his wishes remain unfulfilled. He wishes to ensure that an Indian Institute of Technology and Hassan Airport are inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of all MPs of the JD(S) and the BJP in the district.

The JD(S) leaders addressing the rally claimed that Hassan district saw development works only during their party’s rule. Reacting to Congress leaders’ comments, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that Hassan district got three government engineering colleges during his tenure. “However, Mysuru, represented by Siddaramaiah, who claims to have broken Devaraj Urs’ record by becoming the longest-serving Chief Minister, does not even have one government engineering college,” he said. He further added that Mr. Deve Gowda had initiated works for the airport 30 years ago. However, it has not been completed yet.

Mr. Revanna said that during Kumaraswamy’s rule, the district got a medical college, many degree colleges, PU colleges, and high schools. He also criticised K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, Congress MLA of Arasikere, without taking his name. “Arasikere got an engineering college and a polytechnic college because of Mr. Kumaraswamy. However, the MLA forgot the party’s contributions to his constituency and went to the extent of criticising Mr. Deve Gowda,” he stated.

Nikhil’s aim

JD(S) party youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy said that he had been travelling across the State to strengthen the party with the only objective of making his father, Mr. Kumaraswamy, the Chief Minister again. “I have already covered 52 constituencies in the first phase and will tour the rest in the coming days. I am ready to work 18 hours a day for the party,” he said.

He also took a dig at Mr. Shivalinge Gowda for his recent comments on the JD(S) leaders. The MLA grew in politics because of the JD(S) and he ditched the party later, which was nothing but a betrayal to the mother, the youth wing president lamented.

Suraj Revanna, MLC, party legislators A. Manju, C.N. Balakrishna, H.P. Swaroop, party leader in the Legislative Assembly Suresh Bau, and many other legislators and party leaders were present at the rally.