``I have taken up the issue with the Planning Commission to link Ganga and Cauvery rivers as it would solve the drinking water problems and provide water to irrigate the water-starved lands'', he said on Thursday.

He was speaking at the inauguration of Raitha Lok Shakthi (farmers wing of the Lok Shakti). ``If the present BJP-led Government continued, it would be a reality. Personally I am confident that the government will survive. But the path is full of hurdles at every step. If it does not, then the government that succeeds will be with bad people. If nothing else, in our government there are no bad people'', he said.

He said farmers need not fear the import of silk from China as the quality of silk imported was not in demand in the south where people prefer Mysore silk. He said about Rs 4,000 crore worth of silk was being smuggled in every year which did not help any farmers in the country. To prevent this kind of smuggling, government decided to import silk. Only those who were in export-import business with a foreign exchange reserve were issued special import licence to bring in silk, he said.