Date:10/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/10/stories/2004081007680400.htm

Karnataka

Take a bold decision, Poojary tells Chief Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, AUG. 9. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, B. Janardhana Poojary, has asked the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, to take bold decisions in matters pertaining to the execution of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project and the proposed all-India tour of Bangalore corporators.

Addressing party workers at a function organised to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Quit India Movement here today, Mr. Poojary said: "The Government and the officials will be demoralised if the Chief Minister is indecisive in crucial matters of administration and development works."

Unenviable position

Since Mr. Singh was heading a coalition Government, he was in a delicate situation. It was difficult for Mr. Singh to question some of the issues raised by the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) President, H.D. Deve Gowda. But the Congress leaders were opposed to Mr. Gowda's demand for an inquiry against the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna with regard to the alleged land scam in the BMIC project, Mr. Poojary said.

He defended the acquisition of land for the BMIC project and said if the Government did not take steps to improve infrastructure, there would be flight of capital from Bangalore. Dakshina Kannada became one of the industrially developed districts because of acquisition of land for development of the New Mangalore Port and other industries, he said.

Reject proposal

Mr. Poojary, who used the platform to make suggestions to the Chief Minister on various issues, urged the Chief Minister to reject the Bangalore corporators' plan to tour the country. After three consecutive droughts, the people had lost their property in the recent floods. The tour by the corporators would not in any way help to solve the city's problems, he said.

No tie-up

Mr. Poojary said the Congress would go it alone in the coming elections to local bodies in the State. The party would not enter into an alliance with the Janata Dal (S). Mr. Singh felicitated the freedom fighter, "INA" Rama Rao, who served in the Indian National Army founded by Subhas Chandra Bose.

JD(S) function

A cultural programme was organised at the Janata Dal (Secular) headquarters to mark the 62nd anniversary of the Quit Indian movement. The Deputy Chief Minister and President of the State unit of the party, Siddaramaiah, inaugurated the programme.