Speaking to reporters after launching the Pulse Polio programme at his home office, ‘Krishna,’ here on Sunday, the CM said people know the truth and are aware of the developments related to the project. “We all know under whose government the project came up” he retorted.

The CM further said that it was shameful to see the former prime minister on the roads staging a protest. “With all due respect, if Gowda has any issue with the project, he should have a discussion with the ministers concerned in the presence of the Opposition, instead of taking to demonstration.” He should have raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, he felt.

Referring to the allegation by former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy that Congress leaders received kickbacks from BJP, Yeddyurappa expressed surprise over the “disparaging remarks” against the two national parties. The state government has been following the Supreme Court directions on the project, Yeddyurappa said.

Reactions

Deve Gowda had no choice but to use such language. He is outraged with the injustice meted out to farmers whose land is being acquired for the BMIC project. He only meant to say that farmers are being cheated.

H D Kumaraswamy

Bangalore: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s derogatory remarks against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa have not gone down well among Bangaloreans. Reacting sharply to JD(S) Chief’s tirade, a cross section of people with whom this paper interacted over the issue, felt he should not have stooped to that level.

“A former Prime Minister should be a role model for all. The use of abusive language by HD Devegowda against current Chief Minister is a shameful act. Politics in our country still has some values left. These will be lost if such incidents occur.”

Penchalaiah,
ISRO employee

“Devegowda’s outburst and use of abusive language against the Chief Minister have left us women deeply hurt. In order to make his political dish spicy, he is making such statements without caring for the consequences. We, the women, condemn his remarks.”

Akshata,
House wife

“By convincing farmers to block the NICE road and by making such irrelevant remarks, Devegowda is giving a false impression of being pro-farmers. The JD (S) Supremo had himself cleared the project when he was the Chief Minister. Why didn’t then he know that farmers will have to lose their lands? Why didn’t this thought come to him then? This is nothing but a cheap political gimmick.”

Venkatesh,
Pilot,
Kingfisher Airlines

Deve Gowda is a respected leader. I am yet to believe that he has made such a statement against the CM. If the media reports are true, it is very unfortunate.

R V Deshpande
KPCC President