BJP, JD(S) walk out, term meet on flyover 'an eyewash'

George adamant on project, claims it has people's backing

BJP MLAs and MPs on Tuesday walked out of a meeting convened by Bengaluru Development Minister K J George on the steel flyover project.

BJP leaders said the meeting was an eyewash because the government had already decided to implement the project. The ruling Congress’ ally in the BBMP, JD(S), too was not convinced with the project as its three MLAs made a silent exit from the meeting.

Mahalakshmi Layout JD(S) MLA K Gopalaiah was critical of the BDA, which is constructing the flyover. He protested against the BDA’s failure to pay a compensation of Rs 4 crore to Mangala from his constituency, compelling her to consume poison as a mark of protest.

Gopalaiah warned that he would go on a hunger strike if compensation was not paid to the woman. As Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandras-ekhar stood up to speak, George interrupted him, saying that his organisation, Namma Bengaluru Foundation, had filed a case against the flyover in the High Court and being a petitioner, he could not comment.

Chandrasekhar shot back asking him why was he invited then. He said that environmental impact assessment, public consultation and disclosure of project details were not done. He flayed the government and the BDA for the sham public consultation held in June.

P C Mohan, BJP Lok Sabha member from Bengaluru Central, sought to know why the government was averse to developing alternative routes.

Rajajinagar BJP MLA Suresh Kumar took a dig at the government for consulting the opposition, when already a decision had been taken.

“Why did you organise this event when you have planned groundbreaking ceremony on November 1?” asked Kumar. As he suggested alternatives such as over-bridges and underpasses, George flared up, saying that he would not repeat the magic box kind of blunder committed by the BJP. Infuriated BJP leaders walked out. Later speaking to reporters, George said it was the BJP which mooted the idea in 2010, but later dumped it.

“This project was in our manifesto in the 2013 Assembly election. People voted for our projects. A few isolated voices of 30,000 or 40,000 people cannot change our decision,” said George.