JD(S) gives in, BMIC Bill off

JD(S) gives in, BMIC Bill off
To Move Court; BJP Wins Round 1
The Times of India

Bangalore: In a virtual victory for the BJP, its coalition partner, JD(S), on Sunday relented and decided not to go ahead with the proposed legislation on the takeover of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project. Instead, it has chosen to pursue the issue in courts.

Faced by BJP’s steadfast views on the BMIC and threats of losing power, chief minister Kumaraswamy seemed to have had no option, but to give in. The decision was taken at the JD(S)LP meeting on Sunday evening, attended by party national president H D Deve Gowda. Incidentally, it’s the first time Gowda attended a JD(S)LP meeting after the present government was formed.

Senior JD(S) legislator M P Prakash said since legislation to take over “excess’’ land from BMIC was fraught with legal complications, it cannot be brought in. “We first want to clear the names of Gowda and his family on land-holding allegations. Farmers’ interest is supreme. We’ll reveal in the legislature on what transpired on the BMIC project from Day 1.’’

JD(S) MLC and spokesperson Y S V Datta said the government would fight the battle in courts. BMIC promoter Ashok Kheny would be told to honour the Supreme Court verdict and to execute the project in accordance with the 1997 framework agreement, he said.

The proposed legislation had festered differences between the JD(S) and BJP and would have landed the ruling coalition in trouble during the month-long legislature session beginning Monday. While the JD(S) favoured a complete takeover of the project, auctioning of excess land and using the proceeds for Bangalore’s infrastructure, the BJP only wanted the excess land recovered and returned to farmers.

Prakash, however, clarified that the Land Reforms Act does not permit restoring of lands to farmers, once acquired. Prior to the JD(S)LP meeting, Kumaraswamy sought to play down the week-long face-off with the BJP. “There were no differences between the partners. Then, where’s the question of patching up?”

The BJP had rushed its troubleshooter M Venkaiah Naidu to Bangalore as Gowda had accused BMIC promoters “of managing to influence some BJP leaders for other considerations’’.

“We’re very clear that there should be no takeover of the project. We’re ready for action after all the legal implications are discussed on excess land,’’ Naidu stated.

KILL BILL, THE STORY

All action was centred around Kumara Krupa Guest House and the neighbouring five-star hotel on Sunday. Here is how it unfolded:

3 pm: BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu to hold strategy meeting to break deadlock with JD(S), but delayed as state BJP leaders had to arrive from districts. 5 pm: Naidu arrives at Kumara Krupa Guest House, waits for the BJP leaders. Tells the media the decision would be taken only after discussion. 5.45 pm: State leaders arrive. 6 pm: JDSLP meet to discuss BMIC, delayed as both national president H D Deve Gowda and chief minister H D Kumaraswamy away from the city. 7.30 pm: BJP sticks to its stand of “take back excess land but no takeover of project.’’ 8.15 pm: JDSLP meet starts with Kumaraswamy. 8.45 pm: Gowda arrives. 9.15 pm: JD(S) spokesperson Y S V Datta says legislation for takeover of the project will not be introduced in the upcoming session. CM to dig out ‘landmines’

Bangalore: Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy is all set to take on his detractors by ‘disclosing’ their property details —- when driven against the wall on the issue of his assets in BMIC project area.

Anticipating an aggressive campaign by the Congress in the legislature session starting on Monday, Kumaraswamy has reportedly sought details on land ownership in and around the area. A list of ‘which politician owns how much land’ is being compiled by revenue officials dotting the BMIC area, sources told The Times of India.

Preliminary findings itself have given an interesting twist to the BMIC controversy, vis-a-vis the JD(S). “Not just Kumaraswamy’s family, top politicians from the Congress, the BJP and other parties too own land in and around the project area,’’ sources said. While a former minister planned to construct nursing and medical colleges near the proposed expressway, two of his colleagues are getting ready to capitalise on the rising realestate prices. Even top politicians from other states and bureaucrats have invested on land near the project area, sources added.

The revenue officials have also been directed to study the profiles of big builders who own land in the area and their political affiliations. When contacted, Bangalore rural district deputy commissioner G V Kongawad said he was not aware of any such instructions from the CM. However, sources in his office said the instructions had come on Friday.

“Kumaraswamy’s is the same tactic which his brother Revanna had applied as public works minister in the previous Dharam Singh government. When confronted by the then opposition leader B S Yediyurappa on the letters of credit (LoC) issue, Revanna had threatened to reveal names of BJP leaders who had approached him seeking release of LoCs to their favourite contractors. Subsequently, the BJP withdrew.