Stop provoking me: Yeddyurappa tells Gowda

"Gowda has not only insulted me, but also six crore people of Karnataka. I am hurt by the remarks made against me yesterday," Yeddyurappa told reporters here a day after the former prime minister's outburst replete with expletives created a political furore in the state.

Yeddyurappa said Gowda was hurling abuses at others "taking advantage of the former prime minister status.He talks lightly about the Chief Minister, the Advocate General."
In a warning, he said, "I can also make similar caustic remarks. But I won't do that. Let him stop provoking me."

Yeddyurappa, however, ruled out any legal action against the JDS chief, remarking sarcastically: "Gowda himself is a legal expert. What legal action can I take".

"Gowda has capacity to project a falsehood as truth. He is trying to mislead farmers. But he will not succeed", Yeddyurappa said taking a swipe at the former prime minister's charge that excess land was being granted to Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE).

Gowda made the remarks over the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Project, promoted by NICE, during a farmers' stir against NICE at Hemmigepura village near here.
"Who is this Yeddyurappa? Bas...d. Who the hell does Yeddyurappa think he is? Does he have any shame," Gowda had said in the controversial remarks.

Accusing the JD-S of trying to create trouble in the state and provoking farmers to bring a bad name to BJP Government, Yeddyurappa charged Gowda with "shedding crocodile tears" for farmers all of sudden and ridiculed him for joining the stir.

The land allotment had been done as per the framework agreement and verdicts of courts, he asserted.

After the BJP Government came to power, it had notified only 3.1 acres of land at Gottigere tank near Kengeri on the city outskirts for the project, he said.

Shortly after his remarks evoked a sharp reaction from BJP and other quarters, Gowda went into a damage control mode telling a regional TV channel, "If they (his remarks) have hurt Yeddyurappa, I express my regret."

Gowda had also targeted Karnataka Advocate General Ashok Haranhally and accused him of submitting a false affidavit on the NICE project in court.

Meanwhile, state unit BJP sought to step up the pressure on Gowda to tender an apology for the "derogatory" outbursts.

BJP workers held a dharna at the busy Basaweshwara circle near Vidhan Soudha, the state secretariat, this morning and chanted anti-Gowda slogans.

BJP leader D B Chandre Gowda told reporters that the former prime minister's remarks amount to an insult to the entire state and the people and he should tender an apology.

"NICE project is the baby of Devegowda. The MoU for the project was signed when Devegowda was the Chief Minister", Chandra Gowda, flanked by city BJP MLAs, said, adding, the former Prime Minister was raking up the issue with an eye on next month's polls to the city civic body, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
"Gowda is frustrated at losing power", Chandre Gowda said.