Ministers eye race course land

Someone explain this logic to me:
“After all, alternative land for the race course has been identified and allotted to the club. If the current race course (near Basaveshwara Circle) is taken over soon by the government, it would help a lot of poor people. If Ministers are allotted homes there, then all Ministers will be within reach and it would help,” Mr Anjaneya said.
How will alloting the race course to Ministers help poor people? Or is it that Ministers are poor people?

You bet, Race Course stays
Deccan Herald


The State government will not take over the land currently used as race course in the heart of Bangalore till 2009, Industries and Infrastructure Minister P G R Sindhia told the Assembly on Monday. He was responding on behalf of PWD Minister H D Revanna, to a question by JD (U)’s H Anjaneya during question hour.

“The race course land, spanning 67 acres and 25 guntas, was leased to the Bangalore Turf Club for 30 years in 1989. This lease period was revised in 2000 to 20 years -- from January 1, 1989, to December 12, 2009. When the lease expires, the Cabinet of the government in power at that time will decide on proceedings to take over the land,” Mr Sindhia said, categorically rejecting the Opposition’s demand to foreclose the lease and take over the land sooner.

Opposition Leader in the Assembly B S Yediyurappa and Mr Anjaneya accused the government of bowing to pressure from ‘influential persons’ and not foreclosing the lease with Bangalore Turf Club to take over the race course land.

“After all, alternative land for the race course has been identified and allotted to the club. If the current race course (near Basaveshwara Circle) is taken over soon by the government, it would help a lot of poor people. If Ministers are allotted homes there, then all Ministers will be within reach and it would help,” Mr Anjaneya said.

He further felt the race course was adding to traffic congestion in the area.