Karnataka   

Chief Minister dares Gowda for a public debate

Sankeshwar (Belgaum District): “The Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) is the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s ‘baby.”

This was how Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa reacted to the allegations of colluding with NICE, levelled by Mr. Gowda at a press conference in Bangalore, as he declared that the matter would be taken up during the coming joint session of the legislature (in Belgaum).

“Let the truth come out, I am prepared even for any inquiry; but, if Mr. Gowda has the courage, let him share a common platform with me on the matter so that all issued are cleared in front of the people,” he told The Hindu midway through his election meeting here on Saturday. He said that the MoU with NICE was reached in 1995 in the U.S. Subsequently, the frame work for agreement and area expansion were finalised in 1999-2000 when the Congress was in power. Even the then government and the NICE decided to take up any dispute arising on the project in the International Court but not in India.

The Supreme Court had snubbed the State Government and issued certain directions, which the Bharatiya Janata Party Government was following.

That apart, the BJP had no role in any manner vis-À-vis the NICE project, Mr. Yeddyurappa said.

As far as the public ire on high toll fee being collected by NICE is concerned, the BJP Government would do its best to mount pressure on the company to bring it down at the earliest, he said.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said Mr. Gowda, known for his “vindictive politics,” was resorting to such “highly irresponsible” statements out of “fear” of being taking a drubbing in the December 27 byelections.

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