To save government, Gowda, son back off

To save government, Gowda, son back off
The Indian Express

BMIC: Plan to take over project abandoned, JD(S) decides to settle for a debate in House

BANGALORE, JUNE 18:The Janata Dal (Secular), coalition partners of the BJP in the Karnataka government, has backed down on its move to push through legislation for government takeover of the Bangalore Myore Infrastructure Corridor Project, the country’s first private roadway project.


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At a meeting of the JD(S) legislature party on Sunday evening, the party’s national president and former prime minister, H D Deve Gowda, decided that it would be in the interest of the coalition not to push for takeover of the BMICP from its private implementers, the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE).

The BJP has been opposing JD(S)’s takeover proposal resulting in a standoff between the two partners over the past week.

Sources said the JDLP meeting decided to use a legislature session beginning on Monday to air the JD(S)’s views on the BMIC issue.

‘‘The party does not want to project its change in stand on the BMICP as a back down from seeking takeover. It will now use the Assembly session to publicise its views and protect the Gowda family. This way the government stays intact,’’ JD(S) sources said.

JD(S) party spokesman Y S V Datta confirmed that the JD(S) would not be pressing for legislation to take over the BMICP any more.

The party issued advertisements in all leading Kannada newspapers on Sunday stating it is not opposed to the project but alleged discrepancies on the part of NICE.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the government would provide all support for the BMICP in line with the Supreme Court and High Court orders to carry out the project as originally conceived.

‘‘The main intention in backing down from the move to table the bill is to stay in power. The expression of support to the project is an attempt to protect the government against contempt proceedings. The JD(S) has now covered its positions well and will use the legislature session to gain political mileage with a pro-farmer rhetoric,’’ JD(S) sources said.

After the JDLP meeting, party President M P Prakash told reporters that they confined themselves to how to ‘‘expose the truth.’’ ‘‘Our first priority is to expose the disinformation campaign against Deve Gowda and his family,” Prakash said.

BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu who arrived in Bangalore and held discussions with his state leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and president Sadananada Gowda, said there would not be any problem from the BJP to the coalition government.

The JD(S) had been insisting that NICE, executor of the project, was possessing excess land which had been purchased from farmers at a ‘‘throwaway price’’ and wanted it to be reclaimed.(with PTI)