Karnataka seeks central government's help to fight slowdown

Bangalore, May 31 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Sunday sought assistance from the central government in coping with the economic slowdown that has severely impacted the state's resource mobilisation, including tax collections.

'I have sought an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh early this week to seek the centre's help in tiding over the situation arising out of the economic slowdown,' Yeddyurappa said at a public rally held to mark the first anniversary of the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the southern state.

Addressing about 10,000 people at the 'vikas sankalpa utsav' in the sprawling National College grounds here, Yeddyurappa said he would convene a meeting of the 28 newly-elected MPs from the state in New Delhi June 2-4 to discuss the various development issues and projects awaiting central clearance.

'I have also sought the cooperation of the four central ministers from Karnataka in leading a delegation of MPs to the prime minister for central intervention, including financial aid,' the chief minister said.

The four central ministers from the state belonging to the Congress are: External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily, Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge and Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa.

In the recent general elections, the BJP won 19 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, while the Congress bagged six and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) three.

Besides IT and biotech sectors, manufacturing and service sectors in the state were impacted by the global financial meltdown, leading to decline in the state's GDP growth and resource mobilisation over the last two quarters.

The chief minister, however, did not qualify the impact of slowdown on the state.

'I appeal to the opposition parties in the state to play a constructive role in putting the state on a fast track. I seek the assistance and guidance of the UPA government in the speedy implementation of infrastructure and development projects not only in Bangalore, but also across the state,' Yeddyurappa noted.

Yeddyurappa also announced that a global investors' meet would be held in Bangalore after the south-west monsoon to attract investments and infrastructure projects.

A world Kannada conference will also be held later this year at Belgaum in north Karnataka to celebrate classical status granted to Kannada language by the centre last year.