Deve Gowda refutes Congress Charge

Bangalore, Apr 29 (UNI) Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today denied allegations by the Congress that he had been a major stumbling-block in taking up various developmental works during the last 20-months rule of the coalition government in the state.

He told newspersons here that he had written several letters to former Chief Minister N Dharam Singh and other ministers in the coalition government to ensure that the government worked for the interests of all sections of society.

He also released a compendium of letters he had written to the previous government. They included those on Metro rail project and the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure corridor project. Mr Gowda said that the missives he had addressed to Mr Singh and others were advisory in nature and aimed to strengthen the commitment of the coalition government placed before the people of the state.

Mr Gowda said he never practiced 'Opportunistic Politics' during his long span of public life.

The former Prime Minister has said that he never opposed the Bangalore Metro, and Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor projects.

Referring to allegations on mega land deals levelled against the H D Kumaraswamy led JD(S)-BJP Government, he said the state government was capable to answer the charges. ''If I start digging out the past I would be blamed for witch-hunting'' he said, adding I appreciate the concern shown by the Opposition leaders on the said land allotments.

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