Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Feb 17: Even after the state Chief Minister (CM), Yeddyurappa, extended an invitation to the JD(S) Supremo, Deve Gowda, for discussions on Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) issue, Gowda and his son, Kumaraswamy, continued to spew venom against the state government and the Congress Party.  Gowda even threatened to lay siege to the parliament.

“Why are the Congress Party leaders silent over NICE, which has been executing a plan of raking in crores of rupees and erecting townships on the tombs of the farmers?” Deve Gowda questioned. He criticized the opposition Congress Party in the state for remaining mum on this issue, even as the CM has taken up cudgels to protect Ashok Kheny, managing director of NICE. “The farmers believe that Yeddyurappa and the Congress leaders have entered into a secret pact in this issue,” he said.

Speaking after inaugurating the awareness meet organized by the JD(S) against NICE, he pledged not to rest till the additional land acquisition plans for the project are shelved. While requesting Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to come to the rescue of the distressed farmers relating to NICE, he warned that he will lead the farmers to New Delhi for laying siege to the parliament. About the invitation to talks extended by the CM, he quipped, “Why do we need to meet and talk, when the CM has failed to meet the promises he made during the last meeting?”

Former CM, H D Kumaraswamy, also accused Yeddyurappa of creating confusions in the minds of the farmers by issuing different controversial and confusing statements about the aims of the proposed ‘Land Bank’, being created to acquire land across the state. “Even we are unable to understand what the CM wants. How can we expect the people to understand him,” he commented.