Mysuru: Asserting that he would get Mekedatu balancing reservoir Project across Cauvery river that flows  along Karnataka-Tami Nadu border, sanctioned within five minutes by the Centre, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy questioned whether Karnataka Congress leaders have the capacity to convince Tamil Nadu where the Congress is a coalition  partner of the ruling DMK Government.

Speaking to press persons ahead of DISHA meeting here yesterday, Kumaraswamy urged the State Congress Government to get Tamil Nadu Government’s nod for the Mekedatu Project.

Stating that the Tamil Nadu Government was opposing the project, the Union Minister maintained that he stands committed to his earlier remarks on Mekedatu project even now. Reiterating that he would get the project sanctioned by the Prime Minister within minutes if the Tamil Nadu Government agrees for the project, Kumaraswamy wondered what purpose would serve if the Karnataka Government opens the project office without getting the consent of Tamil Nadu, which is strongly opposing the project since its conception.

Charging the Congress Government of wasting time, he said that the Congress is unnecessarily blaming him for the delay in the execution of the project.

Maintaining that the Congress is unwarrantedly dragging his name often, Kumaraswamy said the Congress leaders have been doing this as they feared him the most. The Congress leaders seemed to have lost their sleep especially after the BJP and the JD(S) formed an alliance, he said adding that the people of the State are closely watching the political developments here.

Referring to Congress leaders’ claims that their Government would return to power in the next elections too, he said “Let the Congress Government rule the State for another 20 years. But the Government should do what it had promised. We and the people of the State know the fate of leaders who had earlier claimed of 20 years of power”.

Commenting on Minister Priyank Kharge’s remark that the Congress would ban the RSS if it was returned to power at the Centre, Kumaraswamy said that the people are making the Congress shut its shop elsewhere in the country. Let the Congress first try to retain its existence as it is losing power in one State after the other, he quipped. Priyank Kharge should first list the contributions of the Congress for the growth of Kalyana Karnataka region, before making any remarks against the RSS, he added.

Replying to a query on the absence of his party MLA G.T. Devegowda, Kumaraswamy said he would not like to comment on  the matter.