Supporting the Union Government’s move to amend the Land Acquisition Act through an Ordinance, national vice president of BJP and former Karnataka chief minister, B. S. Yeddyurappa opined that the move was inevitable to boost industrial development in the country.
He was addressing a media conference at Inspectors' Bungalow here on Tuesday.
“Hassle-free and speedy land acquisition is imperative for industrial development. It is because of unnecessary delay, many projects are getting dragged for years. Industrial expansion to rural areas would, indeed, help farmers as it automatically addresses unemployment in villages,” he said.
He, however, assured that the Union Government would ensure handsome compensation to and proper rehabilitation of land-losing farmers. “Achieving industrial development without harming farmers’ interests is what we thought of,” he added.
Arkavathy Row
Responding to chief minister Siddaramaiah’s remarks on him over Arkavathy Layout case, Yeddyurappa said that widespread de-notifications have been done after Congress assumed power in the state.
“While H.D. Kumarswamy, Governor and I had de-notified 98, 65 and 57 acres respectively, Siddaramaiah has alone de-notified 707 acres. We demand the entire case be probed by CBI,” he alleged.
He criticised the State government for its “lethargy” in implementing developmental projects and welfare programmes.
“The top brass in the government is completely engrossed in transfer deals. Hundreds of developmental projects are unnecessarily being dragged for years. Common people cannot get their work done in government offices without bribing officers. The government is, in actual sense, dead for people,” he went on charging directly pointing his fingers at chief minister.
He said that MLA fund of Rs. 2 crores had been allocated to each legislature in the budget and only Rs. 1 crore was so far released. “Most of the MLAs have not yet utilized half of the amount released. Only two months are left for the completion of fiscal year. When would the government release the rest of the allocated funds and when would the MLAs spend it?” he questioned.
BJP’s district president Basavanagowda Byagwatt, party leaders N. Shankarappa, Bandesh Walkamdinni, Ramananda Yadav, Shankaragowda Haravi, Trivikram Joshi and others were present.
