BMIC issue: K'taka govt accused of vindictive behaviour

Bangalore, June 14 (UNI) The Congress in Karnataka today described as ''vindictive,'' the ruling JD (S)-BJP coalition's plan to bring in a legislation to facilitate the take-over of the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project from its promoters, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE).

Talking to reporters here, KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge alleged that the state government was behaving in a vengeful manner as it had lost its face before both the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court in the BMIC issue.

''It looks like the government was bringing in the Karnataka Infrastructure Development and Land Reforms Bill 2006 with ill intentions. It is not doing it neither in the interest of farmers nor the state,'' he added.

''The JD-S and BJP are involved in a 'dog fight' over the issue and several questions are being asked about the government's intentions. This government is bound by the Supreme Court order and it has no other way but to follow it. Any misadventure, like the Bill, will only boomerang on them,'' he warned.

The state government had been at loggerheads with NICE ever since it came to power four months ago. While the government accused NICE of having acquired 2,450 acres of excess land for the project, the latter denied it.

Meanwhile, ruling coalition partner Janata Dal (S) in Karnataka, beleaguered over the multicrore project, today found support from unexpected quarters, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), in the issue.

In a release here, party State Secretary G N Nagaraj alleged that in the background of growing population in Bangalore and the development of industries, it was necessary for the state government to take over the project and complete it expeditiously.

He said the BMIC project, envisaged 12 years ago, was still in its nascent stage due to the involvement of various vested interests.

The delay in completing the project had badly affected the interests of the people, particularly farmers, residing in and around the project area.

Criticising the ruling coalition partner BJP for changing the stance on the issue, he said when it was in the opposition, the BJP had been demanding the state to take over the project. But now after forming a government in the state along with the JD (S), it was singing a different tune, he alleged.

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