Gowda to take final decision on Presidential Nominee: CM

Hassan, Karnataka, June 18 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) President H D Deve Gowda will take a final decision on the party's Nominee for the Presidential election.

Addressing newspersons here, he said the party had authorised its President to take a final decision on the issue.

He said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) should come out with details on how and why Ms Pratibha Patil was named its Presidential candidate.

Mr Kumaraswamy reiterated that his Government was committed to introducing internal reservation among backward classes in the State and the issue would be taken up in the June 21 Cabinet meeting. A Cabinet Sub-Committee had been constituted under his chairmanship and its members would be announced shortly, he added.

Referring to the new districts of Ramanagaram and Chikkabalapur, he said the Government had decided on this after consulting the revenue department. However, there were no plans for creating new taluks.

The Chief Minister said the Government had decided to set up Special Economic Zones in the State. However, the Government would provide land to the investors on market rates, be it Government land or farmers' land. The Government would not compromise on any illegal activities in the process and would not allow misuse in the name of developmental programmes, he added.

UNI