Even as the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) President H.D. Deve Gowda began a two-day dharna here on Wednesday on the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project, he came under a severe attack from the ruling dispensation in Karnataka.
Addressing a press conference barely a km from the dharna venue, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led State government's special representative here, V. Dhananjay Kumar, and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, B.J. Puttaswamy, said the dharna was a “big drama” aimed only at disrupting the smooth running of the State government and to ensure that the political ambitions of his sons were met.
Emphasising that the present State government was only adhering to the agreements executed by the earlier governments and was implementing the Supreme Court decisions, the two leaders alleged that it was Mr. Gowda and his family members who were known for grabbing land by violating all rules.
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“Mr. Deve Gowda is known for [his] notorious anti-development politics. He is also known for misleading the public by giving untrue and false information for selfish motives. The main intention of Mr. Deve Gowda is to obstruct all-round development of the State, which is taking place under the able leadership of [Chief Minister] B.S. Yeddyurappa,” a statement circulated at the press conference said.
‘Wrong signal'
The two leaders also questioned the timing of the dharna.
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Pointing out that the State was convening a Global Investors' Meet in June, they contended that the dharna and other such agitations being organised by Mr. Gowda in different parts of the State would only send a wrong signal to prospective investors.
Accusing him of shedding “crocodile tears” for the farmers, they said if he was truly keen on safeguarding their interests, he could have changed the norms for land acquisition along the lines he is now suggesting when he was the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.