Water shortage in Bengaluru, Karnataka’s capital city known to be the country’s technology hub, has turned into a sour issue during the election season.
In an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi and News18 Kannada Editor Hariprasada A, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the state government in Karnataka (which is under a Congress government since May 2023), saying they converted the technology hub into a ‘tanker hub’.
60% of the water supply for the city’s 15 million people comes from the Cauvery river and the rest from the ground through borewells. People have resorted buying water from tanker operators.
The Prime Minister also opened up about another issue concerning Karnataka, which sends 28 elected representatives to the Parliament. Here’s the edited transcript of the exclusive interview with Prime Minister Modi.
Rahul Joshi: Two states are important in this election – one is Karnataka and the other Maharashtra. In Karnataka, you recently lost the assembly elections, and Maharashtra because there is a strange mess there due to a split in two parties. Two of my colleagues are with me, let’s start with Karnataka first. Hariprasada ji, who is our editor there, wants to ask you some questions.
PM Modi: Hariprasada ji, you are welcome.
Hariprasada A: Let’s talk about the Neha Hiremath murder case, which is being widely discussed. She was killed on a college campus by Fayaz; even, JP Nadda [BJP national president] rushed to her house. Do you think that the focus of the elections in Karnataka is shifting to such issues?
PM Modi: Nadda ji was attending a programme in Karnataka, when this incident took place. Who belongs to which party, or he belongs to the Congress; his daughter was murdered. These are not my values or mindset.
It is a matter of human sentiment, and I believe that even in the midst of the election rush, what he did was the human thing to do. I don’t remember which election it was. Rahul Ji [Rahul Gandhi] faced some issues with his helicopter. I called him immediately to ask if he was in distress.
I was the chief minister of Gujarat when, in Daman, a helicopter carrying Sonia ji [Sonia Gandhi], Ahmed Patel Sahab crashed. I told them that I was sending an air ambulance, but Ahmed Patel Sahab told me that they were all fine and not in any kind of emergency.
Once Sonia ji went to Kashi for an election campaign and she fell ill, so I immediately sent people over to see what the matter was and, if required, sent an aircraft to carry her. So, these are my principles and this is beyond politics. So, for me, whenever any problem arises in any family, this should be resolved by rising above politics.
Hariprasada A: The Congress in Karnataka promised five guarantees and, after they came to power, they delivered on that. Whereas the BJP lost the last election there. Now again, there is too much focus on the leadership of BS Yediyurappa and his son due to which some within the party are also upset. How many seats do you think the BJP can win in Karnataka?
PM Modi: Number one, the people of Karnataka are regretting that they have committed such a big mistake by electing them (Congress). Our public support has not gone down; in fact, it has increased. But, in such a short time, they still have unresolved issues like the post of CM.
While the CM has taken the oath, it has not been settled who it really is. If you look at the law-and-order situation, there are riots and murders taking place; the economic condition is in a state of complete bankruptcy. They have made big promises, if this happens, you will get this, if that happens, you will get this. This means you are cheating the public.
When we said we would give Ayushman Bharat cards to these people, we would fulfil that, there would be no dishonesty. They cancelled the scheme for farmers, and there is no reason for it. Look at Bengaluru, which has a big role in increasing the country’s education.
Now, it has been turned into a tanker hub [Water crisis] in no time. And there is a mafia involved there too. People are yearning for water… The deputy CM is asking for votes for his brother so that he can become CM; so everyone is playing games. Games are being played to remove someone from the seat. As far as the BJP is concerned, we are working with team spirit even if my team was defeated.
Hariprasada A: For us in Karnataka, it’s the second phase of the election for 14 seats, which are in the northern part of Karnataka that has drought-hit places. Now, about this drought, the Congress is claiming that it went to the Supreme Court. Now, the central government is forced to give a rightful compensation. What’s your opinion on that?
PM Modi: As far as the state disaster relief fund is concerned, our inter-ministerial team has laid down the rules and practices in the effective areas. The team that went to these places has done a survey, and it is like that every time.
