Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 17: JDS supremo, who had doggedly pursued Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC)Project implemented by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) of Ashok Kheny through complaints, cases, and appeals, has finally announced that he has decided to stop his relentless chase of alleged irregularities in the execution of the said project.

"Chief minister, Siddaramaiah, the then speaker, Kagodu Thimappa, and several other leaders, who had actively raised their voices against the said project, are now owning discreet silence. While I have never been against BMIC project, I had fought against fraud played on the farmers by NICE which illegally acquired additional land from farmers in the name of township, in the interests of the people of the state. If I continue to fight, I will be branded as anti-development. Therefore, I am stopping my campaign against the company. Now, I leave it to the discretion of the government either to stop these irregularities or allow the concerned to swindle state's property," Gowda said.

He recalled that after Siddaramaiah, PWD minister, Dr H C Mahadevappa, speaker, Kagodu Thimmappa and others strongly expressed anguish against the irregularities of the company when the issue came up for discussions, a house committee was formed. "I do not know what happened to this committee, and whether it is still in existence," Gowda said.

Deve Gowda said that the officials had filed affidavit as per which NICE was involved with irregularities worth Rs 30,000 crore. As per court directions, meeting of the state chief secretary, government advocates, and advocate for the project had held meeting, but the proceedings of the meetings have been kept under wraps. The minutes of this meeting have not been furnished to court neither are they being provided against RTI application, he rued.

He demanded that the supreme court instruction to hold meeting and inform it of the outcome should be complied with, as the final judgement in the case will come out by the end of this month. He said that when Justice Santosh Hegde ordered for investigation when he was the state Lokayukta, Ashok Keny brought stay order against it within 24 hours. He said he does not want to be termed as anti development and hence has finally decided not to pursue the issue further.

Las minister, T B Jayachandra, clarified that the house committee on this issue had met, and that after holding two to three more sittings, a detailed final report would be submitted.