Gowda logs in,demands jobs

Gowda logs in,demands jobs
Deccan Herald

The JD(S supremo attacked a section of the industry for starting a “campaign” against the govt that IT was leaving Bangalore because of infrastructral woes.

JD(S) leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has done “IT” again. This time Mr Gowda utilised the Bangalore IT.in-2005 as a platform to give a push for jobs in companies for those displaced following land acquisition by IT units.

“You can have the land you want, but I insist that you provide jobs to the people from whom you acquire land. They cannot be allowed to suffer and go begging for food,” Mr Gowda told IT czars gathered at the eighth edition of the state flagship technology exposition here on Wednesday. He urged Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to allot land to IT industries on a condition that they give jobs to those displaced. “We will not allow the IT industry and other industries to suffer, but everything must have accountability,” he said.

Mr Gowda stressed that he was not anti-IT but was only seeking accountability on land allotment and its utilisation. “I am not going to minimise the contribution of the IT industry. I am not jealous about your earnings. I am not bothered,” he said. Mr Gowda left soon after his 30-minute address to visit the rain-affected areas.

He devoted a major part of his speech to list out the progress in improving infrastructure during his tenure as chief minister of the state and as prime minister. He also utilised the platform to reiterate that there was a “whispering campaign” to destabilise the coalition government.

He said it was when he was at the helm of affairs that the IT industry was given a 10-year tax holiday and the International Technology Park came into being. It was his government that had cleared the ring road project and the Cauvery IV stage project to improve infrastructure in Bangalore. “Yet I am branded as anti-IT. Those who say this should listen to their conscience before making such statements,” he said.

He attacked a section of the IT industry for starting a “whispering campaign” within three months of the coalition government coming to power that IT was leaving Bangalore because of infrastructral woes. He spoke about the positive aspects of IT’s growth like creating wealth in the country and said he wanted to “salute” the contribution of the IT companies of Bangalore. He exhorted IT companies to start operations in other cities of the state, saying “Bangalore has grown enough”.

Chief Minister Dharam Singh tried to shore up the government’s image on the infrastructure front. Referring to discordant notes about inadequate infrastructure facilities, he said the government was striving to set them right. He said over Rs 500 crore had been spent on improving the roads in the city during the last 17 months. The government would also seek financial aid from the Centre to take up upgradation of 38 roads, involving 492 km, at a cost of Rs 516 crore, he added. Mr Singh said the government had also cleared construction of an eight-lane 109 km peripheral ring road at a cost of Rs 1,190 crore.