Yeddy invites Gowda for `Nice’ talks again
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, Feb 16: Having succeeded in softening the JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, who has been waging a virulent campaign against Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, by inviting him and holding talks in Bangalore on January 30 on the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Entrerprises (NICE) Ltd’s Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, the BJP chief minister has invited the former prime minister for another round of talks.
Talking to reporters at his home office, Krishna, Yeddyurappa said he was keen on holding one-to-one talks with Gowda on the issue of allotment of lands for the controversial BMIC project executed by NICE managing director Ashok Kheny and also the acquisition of lands for other industrial projects across the State.
With Gowda announcing plans to undertake state-wide tour to campaign against the BJP regime’s alleged allotment of excess lands to the BMIC project and other land acquisition proposals in the state, the chief minister reiterated that the government had not allotted excess lands for the BMIC project and there has been no deviation of the original Frame Work of Agreement (FWA) signed in 1997 on allotment of lands.
The Gowda-Yeddyurappa talks on the execution of the controversial BMIC were held on January 30 and at that meeting the chief minister had assured the JD(S) supremo that all grievances of famers whose lose lands for the project would be discussed at a High Level Committee on allotment of lands to the NICE. Yeddyurappa said he was ready for talks with Gowda on acquisition of land throughout the state.
It may be recalled that Gowda had himself ``appreciated’’ the government stance on BMIC. ``Let him drop his agitation and come for talks,” the Chief Minister said.
At the same time, Yeddyurappa criticised JD(S) for its continued ``malicious campaign” against the State government over acquisition of lands for industrial and infrastructure projects in the State.
The chief minister made it clear that since the BJP government assumed office, the JD (S) has launched a relentless campaign against the government on various issues, including land
acquisition, in order to mislead people and said he was deeply pained by what he termed as the ``false and baseless propaganda.”
Gowda has commenced his State-wide tour to create awareness against acquisition of agricultural land for setting up industries from Tuesday.
Defending the proposed ``land bank” taken up by the Industries Department, the chief minister said it was part of preparations for the Global Investors Meet planned on June 3 and 4.
The government has been acquiring only barren lands with the consent of the farmers,
he asserted.
``We want to ensure availability of land to those investors coming forward to set up industries. We don’t want to delay the projects for want of land,’’ the chief minister said.
Pointing out that acquisition of lands was inevitable for promotion of industrial development, Yeddyurappa said and shot back, asking: ``Did not Deve Gowda government acquire land?”
The chief minister said all issues, including BMIC and land acquisition
for industrial projects would be discussed in the ensuing Budget session of the State legislature starting from February 25.
Gowda has been opposing the alleged deviation of the original framework agreement executed in 1997 on allotment of land to the BMIC project being implemented by NICE.