More revelations soon: Deve Gowda

More revelations soon: Deve Gowda

The Hindu

What he has said so far on the matter is `only the tip of the iceberg'

# Ready for war with foes, says former Prime Minister
# Accuses some politicians of having links with IT sector
# Sees `vested interests' ganging up against him

Bangalore: The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has said that all that he has stated so far in connection with "vested interests" in the information technology (IT) sector is only the "tip of the iceberg." He will provide more details in due course.

He told presspersons here on Saturday that he is ready for war with his political foes and will provide more information on links between some powerful politicians of the State and the IT sector. There are also some politicians who have constructed IT parks and rented out space to some IT companies. All of them have now come together to safeguard what he called their vested interests and are targeting the coalition government in the State.

Mr. Gowda said attempts are being made to tarnish his image and finish him off politically. "I am neither against infrastructure development in Bangalore nor the growth of the information technology sector." Referring to criticism on the several trips he made to Bangalore when he was the Prime Minister, Mr. Gowda said he did not visit Bangalore to keep tabs on his house here. "I made the first trip when my mother was in a serious condition and my second trip was within days when she passed away."

Mr. Gowda said he had played a major role in the development of infrastructure in Bangalore, and it was during his time as Prime Minister that Defence lands were handed over to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore Development Authority to complete the outer ring road, the inner ring road, the Mekhri Circle underpass and several arterial roads.

The former Prime Minister said he will provide details in due course on the functioning of the Bangalore Agenda Task Force, which, he said, "sold software to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike involving a huge sum of money and which was never put to use." Details will also be provided on the Nirmala toilet scheme. Further, the Global Investors' Meet held in 2000 and the Coastal Investors' Meet held in 2003 had no positive impact in attracting industrial investment despite the tall claims of then government, he charged.