Gowda firm on protest in front of CM's house

Addressing reporters, he alleged that the Yeddyurappa government had not released funds for development programmes in Hassan district in the last three years. All MLAs, MLCs and MPs of the party will join the dharna, he added.

Gowda, a Member of Parliament from Hassan, had staged a day-long hunger protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Hassan on June 22 over the issue. In response to the agitation, Yeddyurappa had said that he would look into the demands. But Gowda had said that action should follow and not just words.

The former prime minister had on June 23 written to the chief minister, seeking his intervention to cancel acquisition of 6.7 acres of  land by the KIADB, belonging to S R S Education Trust, a private educational institution in Anekal taluk on the outskirts of Bangalore.

Rural students’ benefit

The KIADB had recently allotted the acquired land to Narayana Hrudayalaya for constructing a hospital. The trust has been running schools and colleges for the benefit of rural students on the land. Over 500 students were enrolled in the institutions. With the acquisition of land, the future of these students hangs in balance.

The KIADB has forcefully acquired the land, though the dispute has reached the Karnataka High Court, he alleged.

Encroachment alleged

In another letter, Gowda has alleged that Nirani Sugars has encroached upon 18 acres of land belonging to the SCs and STs at Mudhol taluk of Bagalkot district.

Besides, the KIADB has forcefully acquired 42.03 acres of fertile agricultural land to be handed over to Nirani Sugars. Yeddyurappa should visit Mudhol, understand the woes of farmers, and take a decision in their interest, Gowda has urged in the letter.

Slams Centre for fuel price hike

Gowda criticised the Centre for hiking the prices of LPG cylinder, kerosene and diesel and said that the decision to reduce excise and customs duties was taken to benefit oil companies.

“When prices of petroleum products remained stable at US$90 per barrel in the international market in the last four or five months, where was the need for going in for a price hike,” the former prime minister asked.

Gowda reiterated that the prime minister should be brought under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill and wanted the Centre to work out a mechanism to fix accountability of the judiciary.