Karnataka   

NICE project: Deve Gowda seeks AG’s explanation

H.D. Deve Gowda

NEW DELHI: The former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda on Tuesday asked Karnataka Advocate-General Ashok Harnahalli to explain who gave him permission to make submissions before the Supreme Court on providing land to Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Ltd. (NICE) for implementation of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project according to the February 12, 2004 Outline Development Plan (ODP).

“He should explain whether he had said so on his own or Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had orally instructed him to announce the change in the State Government’s stand. If the AG did on his own, then he has no moral right to continue in the post and should resign, as the interests of the people in general and the Dalits and poor farmers in particular have been surrendered. He can even be sacked if he refuses to quit,” Mr. Gowda said.

Speaking to The Hindu here, Mr. Gowda said the AG’s stand in the court was against the State’s affidavits on record; against the decision and agenda of the 13th and 14th Empowered Committee; and beyond written instructions.

The people of the State were entitled to ask the AG whose interest he was advancing in the court while contesting the case.

By submitting to the court that the land be given as per the ODP, which was against his government’s decisions and affidavits, the AG had gifted 4,914 acres of extra land worth thousands of crores to NICE at the expense of poor farmers and land losers. “This is the clearest instance of collusion,” Mr. Gowda said.

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