Assembly witnesses blame game on origin of Kasturirangan report

During the debate on the Kasturirangan report, political blame game unfolded in the Assembly. Members from various parties, including Congress and BJP, sought to assign responsibility for the draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) to different governments. Congress members, including Minister Eshwar B. Khandre and others, emphasized that the draft notification on ESA had been issued by the NDA government at the Centre.

Khandre, a former Forest portfolio holder, demanded a special package for affected areas, as the Centre had issued the draft notification. In contrast, BJP member B.Y. Vijayendra argued that it was the erstwhile UPA government led by Manmohan Singh that had constituted the Madhav Gadgil committee to examine the Ecologically Sensitive Area of the Western Ghats.

Vijayendra accused the UPA government for its role in the current draft notification on ESA, stating that merely blaming the Centre would not aid Karnataka in seeking justice. Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa was accused of publicly politicizing the issue by confronting people against the Centre. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar intervened, clarifying that Bangarappa's actions were to send a message to affected people, rather than protesting against the Centre.

Vijayendra also challenged Congress member Beluru Gopalakrishna's allegation about Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra's attendance at Kasturirangan report meetings. Gopalakrishna requested evidence to support his claim or retract it.