Vinod M Jain
*Prepare Right from Now for the Victory of Congress in All Seven Constituencies of Mandya District.
*Forget Personal Differences and Organize the Party.
*Six-Member Guarantee Committee in Every Panchayat; Directives Issued to Form Bharat Jodo Youth Associations with at Least 250 Members.
*Indira Gandhi Bhavan in Every Constituency.
*Guarantee Beneficiaries Are the Bridge to Connect the Party with People.
*Congress to Power in 2028 as Well: Prepare Right from Now for Local Body Elections.
*2,500 Acres Identified for Mekedatu Project; Acquisition of Only 500 Acres of Farmers’ Land.
“Indira Bhavan should not remain just an office for the Congress party; it must become a symbol of self-respect for every party worker in the district.
Just as people go door-to-door collecting donations to build a temple in a village,every worker should join hands in constructing this building by contributing according to their capacity,ranging from Rs.100 to Rs.10 lakh.Only then will it foster a sense of belonging—that this is our building, our property,”said CM D K Shivakumar.
He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the District Congress Committee’s Indira Bhavan in front of Holalu Circle in Mandya on Saturday.
“With the goal of achieving victory for Congress in all seven Assembly constituencies of Mandya district, workers must organize the party in unity right from now. Putting aside personal differences, everyone must work hard to strengthen the party,”he called upon workers.
“There was a long-standing demand to build a separate office for Congress in Mandya.
Though efforts were made earlier regarding the Gandhi Bhavan land, it could not be completed.
Now,after getting land sanctioned by the government and creating a good layout design under the leadership of District In-charge Minister Cheluvarayaswamy,the construction work has been launched,”he stated.
“Building this Bhavan is not the responsibility of Cheluvarayaswamy alone. Every leader,Panchayat member, and worker in the district must join hands.
Be it ₹100, ₹1,000, or ₹1 lakh, ₹5 lakh, ₹10 lakh, everyone should contribute according to their capacity. Only when built collectively does this building get its real meaning,” he said.
Building to Commemorate Indira’s Sacrifice :
“Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life for the unity, integrity, and peace of the country.This building being constructed in her name should serve as a power center for Congress workers.The words ‘Indira is India, India is Indira’ echo her contribution in the nation’s history,”he said.
“Indira Gandhi made banking services reach common people through the nationalization of banks. This helped the poor become economically self-reliant.
Former Union Minister Janardana Poojary took the decision to ensure ₹5,000 loans to the poor without collateral.
Today, the system has grown to a level where banks come to people’s doorsteps to grant loans.Through several pro-people initiatives,including land for the tiller, Indira Gandhi made significant contributions to the nation,” he added.
“When we were youth and student leaders,we were traveling by train to attend a program in Delhi.The train stopped before reaching Doddaballapura.
Upon receiving the news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination,we returned to Bengaluru.
Major riots had broken out across the country.The memory of that day remains etched in mind even today,” he recalled.
Over ₹2,000 Crore Grants for Mandya’s Development :
“The government has given special priority to the development of Mandya district.Grants of over ₹2,000 crore have already been sanctioned for various development works, including irrigation.
The government’s desire is for farmers’ lives to improve and for water to flow to their fields.The life of Mandya district is intertwined with Kannambadi Dam (KRS) and agriculture.Hence,maximum emphasis has been given to irrigation projects,”he said.
“By allocating key portfolios to the district, greater opportunities have been created for development works. Projects worth hundreds to thousands of crores of rupees have been approved in every Assembly constituency.
The responsibility of carrying the benefits of these development works to the public rests upon the workers,” he said.
Guarantee Beneficiaries Are the Bridge to Connect the Party with People :
“Party organization must be linked with reaching out to the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes.Directives have already been issued to MLAs and leaders to set up six-member Guarantee Committees in every Panchayat.
The formation of these committees must be completed within the next four to five days.Committee members should stay in touch with every guarantee beneficiary, convey information about government schemes, and simultaneously support party organization,” he said.
Target of 250 Youth Members Per Panchayat; Meetings Every 15 Days :
“Bharat Jodo Youth Associations are being launched with the aim of organizing youth and nurturing leadership qualities among them.
These associations will be inaugurated soon, with a target to register at least 250 members in every Panchayat,”he informed.
“The objective of these associations is to provide opportunities in various fields, including sports and cultural activities, according to the talent, interest, and passion of the youth.
Youth should not remain mere members; they must develop their leadership qualities.Activities in this regard are being conducted through the Sports Department under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara.
Identity cards will also be issued to members. Meetings should be held every 15 days,where the youth themselves will decide whether they want to learn theater, engage in sports,or participate in other cultural activities,” he added.
Indira Bhavan in Every Constituency :
“A separate Indira Bhavan for the Congress party must be constructed in all Assembly constituencies of Mandya district.
In Malavalli, Narendraswamy has taken the initiative to construct a Bhavan.In Maddur, Uday has already started the work.
Bandisiddegowda in Srirangapatna and Cheluvarayaswamy in Nagamangala should initiate construction.
Party offices should also be built in K.R. Pete and Pandavapura. There must be a center for workers to gather in every constituency,” he said.
Congress to Power in 2028 as Well:Prepare Right from Now for Local Body Elections :
“The Congress government will return to power in the State once again. Whatever political scenario is created in 2028, it is certain that Congress will come to power again with the support of the people.
For this, workers must strive right from now. Elections for Zilla Panchayats,Taluk Panchayats,Gram Panchayats, and Urban Local Bodies will be held in the next three to four months.
Everyone must prepare for these elections.Capable leaders must be nurtured at every level,and the party must be organized with unity,”he called upon the cadre.
2,500 Acres Identified for Mekedatu Project; Acquisition of Only 500 Acres of Farmers’ Land :
Speaking to media representatives near the PES College Helipad in Mandya on Saturday, CM D K Shivakumar answered questions regarding the Mekedatu project.
“Mandya means Cauvery.
The Supreme Court has granted permission for the Mekedatu project, which aims to ensure proper management of Cauvery water and protect the interests of state farmers during distress.
2,500 acres of land have already been identified for the project, out of which acquisition of private farmers’ land will be only 500 acres,” the CM stated.
“The Mekedatu project will be of immense help in managing Cauvery water.The process of providing alternative land in exchange for the required forest land for the project has commenced.We expect to receive forest clearance from the Central Government by the next Budget,” he said.
“During my tenure, we fought, submitted affidavits to the Supreme Court, and succeeded in the case. The Supreme Court has permitted the commencement of the Mekedatu project.
A committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner has already been formed, and a meeting was conducted regarding providing compensatory land to the Forest Department.
The work of identifying alternative land is also underway. 2,500 acres have already been identified,and more land is being marked,” he said.
Storage Capacity of 66 TMC Water :
“The primary objective of the Mekedatu project is to store and properly manage Cauvery water during distress situations.
The project will have a storage capacity of 66 TMC of water. As per the orders of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court, 177 TMC of water must be released annually to Tamil Nadu.
During crisis situations,including rainfall deficit, managing water availability and flow becomes a challenge.The Mekedatu project will assist during such times,” he explained.
“There is an order to release 177 TMC of water. Storing 66 TMC of water at Mekedatu will help manage the water flow during distress.
The exact quantum of water to be released can be managed properly. Farmers in the Cauvery basin, including Hemavathi, Harangi, and Kabini, will benefit from this.We offered prayers to Cauvery, and the project has now reached a certain stage,” he said.
Land Acquisition After Forest Clearance :
“Details of the compensatory land being offered for the project will be recorded on the Forest Department’s portal.
The Central Government must grant approval promptly. Land acquisition will begin after clearance is received,” he informed.
“We will upload details of all alternative lands being provided onto the Forest Department’s portal.They must grant approval immediately, after which we will initiate the land acquisition process.
Though 2,500 acres in total have been identified for the project, private land belonging to farmers that will be acquired is only 500 acres,”he clarified.
“I have met and discussed with the concerned Minister to obtain Central forest clearance by the next Budget.
BJP leaders should also put politics aside and extend cooperation.Let us all go together and secure clearance for the project,”he appealed.
We Will Provide as Much Land as Needed for the Aircraft Engine Repair Unit :
When asked about Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy writing a letter stating that the State Government is not providing land for an aircraft engine repair unit, he said, “We have already offered to give 100 acres of land.
They have now asked for more land.We will certainly provide it. Who says no? Let them start the work first. After that,we will provide as much land as required.”
“When they asked for 100 acres initially, we agreed to provide it.Now, two days ago, they requested 500 acres. There is no lack of cooperation from the State Government.
Let them do good work we are ready to extend all necessary cooperation.They have been bringing up this matter for the past two and a half to three years,” he said.
When asked about controversial land being allocated for the AIR unit, he clarified, “Let them show which land they want. Whichever land they specify for acquisition, we are ready to acquire and hand it over.
We have no objection to providing the land they point out.
However, when acquiring land at a location, there are situations where farmers express opposition. Actions must be taken keeping that in mind as well.”
