Gowda refused entry to rly workshop he got renovated as PM

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, who wanted to apprise himself of the condition of the railway workshop here, was not allowed to enter the core area of the workshop on Thursday.

Gowda, as prime minister, had released Rs 50 crore for renovation works at the workshop on Gadag Road in 1996.

Gowda had informed the South Western Railway (officials about his visit. Noting that the workshop was a strictly restricted area, officials asked him to send a letter, and the same was sent through Gowda's office, MLA N H Konaraddi said.

When Gowda visited the workshop, officials there hesitated to allow him to enter the workshop. After MLC Basavaraj Horatti and Konaraddi opposed this, they were taken to the workshop office. Officials there were not aware of the exact location of the foundation stone plaque he had unveiled in 1996.

Later, some Kannadiga employees took them to the plaque. However, officials insisted that permission was required to enter the restricted area in the workshop, and Gowda had to return after looking at the plaque, Konaraddi said.