Simha challenges Mahadevappa to a debate on Mysuru’s development

Mysuru: Challenging claims made by former minister HC Mahadevappa, wherein he attributed credit for the development of Mysuru district to former chief minister Siddaramaiah and himself, MP Pratap Simha on Saturday said that he was willing to challenge Mahadevappa in an open debate, and prove him wrong. “I am ready for a debate on the issue of Mysuru’s development with Mahadevappa anywhere he wishes to do so, and at a time of his choosing.I will go to this debate prepared, and with all the documents, and emerge triumphant,” Simha said.
Pointing out that both Mahadevappa and Siddaramaiah had lost the elections in Mysuru district, Simha said, “Had the duo really ushered in development in the district, why did they lose in the polls?”
The MP said that, he did not have to take lessons about development from Mahadevappa, who, the former pointed out, had failed to ensure completion of the expansion of the Jaladarshini road, despite a sum of Rs 12 crore being disbursed from the Central Road Funds’ corpus towards that project. “Wherever he speaks, Siddaramaiah keeps talking about distributing rice for Re 1, but the truth is that it was the Centre’s scheme. While the central government was bearing Rs 29 of the cost of one kilogram of rice, the state was bearing only Rs 2 of the subsidy. He continues to claim credit for the scheme despite the reality being at variance with what he is saying,” Simha said.
The MP also lashed out at Siddaramaiah, who had questioned the BJP’s nominee for the President’s post – Droupadi Murmu. “The former CM seems to be in the habit of finding fault with everything,” Simha added.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesman M Lakshman said that he was willing to participate in a debate with Simha at 12pm on June 29 at Jaladarshini. “Simha is welcome to contest against me in the gram panchayat election, but he will not be able to win without the benefit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name,” Lakshman said.
Lakshman reminded Simha that GP elections were fought sans party symbols.