Arishinakunte (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna kicked off the much- awaited "Janaspandana" campaign (interaction with people), a bus journey to nine districts of Karnataka. The tour began from Arishinakunte town near Nelamangala in Bangalore Rural district on October 8. This tour is significant in view of next year’s Assembly election.

After offering prayers at the Hanuman temple, Krishna addressed the people about his government’s achievement in the last four years. He said the government has completed the demands given in the election agenda and in the next one year the government will work according to the people’s wishes.

Justifying the controversial mid-day meal scheme that was launched by his government a few months ago, Krishna said, "affluent people can’t understand hunger".

Elaborating on his achievement, he said, in the last four years the government has launched several prestigious projects like 'Bhoomi', under which all the records would be computerised in the sub-registrar offices by October 31 and this would help in curbing corruption.

About the online-lottery system, he said betting is present since Mahabharatha’s period. "If I stop the online-lottery system, then people will divert to liqour and other activities. The purpose of starting the online lottery system was to gain 300 crore rupees for the government treasury. This year the commercial tax department is focussed in collecting Rs 630 crores additionally. So, in the next year’s budget, an important decision about the lottery issue will be taken," he said.

Krishna received various complaints among which the Cauvery water issue was the most prominent one. The complainants demanded release of Cauvery water to Nelamangala district for which Krishna said it is a big project and Cauvery water can’t be brought till Nelamangala, as many canals have to be built in between. He asked whether, if Nelamangala gets Cauvery water today, then people from Magadi (nearby town) may also demand water tomorrow. He said Cauvery also has limits. How much can we share it?

Prominent leaders like Nelamangala MLA Anjana Murthy, Magadi MLA Revanna, Ramnagara MLA S M Lingappa gave a demand list to Krishna. The demands included Bangalore-Mumbai Highway flyover construction, installing police chowkis, and proper water and sewerage connection for which Krishna responded with assurances.

Home Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge, City Development Minister D K Shiva Kumar, Public Works Minister Dharam Singh, Women and Children welfare Minister Motamma, Irrigation Minister H K Patil, Co- operation Minister H Vishwanath, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister D B Chandregowda, Information Minister Allum Veerabhadrappa, and other Ministers like Sagir Ahmed, Koliwad, Kagodu Thimappa also accompanied the Chief Minister in his journey.

After Arishinakunte the bus left for Batwaadi near Tumkur.