Gowda to fast in Hassan

Addressing the media in Bangalore on Tuesday, Gowda said that since 2008, Hassan had witnessed no development, including the Hassan-Bangalore rail line.

The former prime minister said his day-long strike would begin at 9 am and end at 5 pm, adding that he would give the government a week to respond.

“Come to Bagalkot”

Gowda has beckoned Yeddyurappa to visit Suregaon village in Mudhol taluk in Bagalkot to inspect the Nirani Sugars factory owned by Industry Minister Murugesh Nirani.

The sugar factory, he said, was polluting the entire village, depriving villagers of clean drinking water and food.

“The untreated effluents are being let out into open fields and canals, which are in turn polluting drinking water in the village.

“Further, the fly ash from the factory is depositing on the foodgrains strewn outside for drying,” Gowda said.

Lokpal Bill

Gowda said that except for the President, everybody else should come under the ambit of the Jan Lokpal. He said that the prime minister and the judiciary too should be tried by the ombudsman.

“The Judges Accountability Bill does not cover corruption and there should be a mechanism even in the judiciary. Under the Bill only the performance of the judges can be evaluated, and it has nothing to do with corruption.”