BSY makes a U-turn on war memorial

Yeddyurappa on July 1 announced the State government’s plans to shift the memorial from the Park to another spot following environmental concerns raised by the sections of society. But he told the Legislative Council on Friday that the decision was being changed, as it had hurt many retired soldiers.

According to the chief minister, the war memorial committee had designed the monument considering environmental issues. Only four eucalyptus trees had been cut and sufficient measures had been taken to increase greenery in the park.

The change in decision over the war memorial upset politicians like JD(S) leader M C Nanaiah, who alleged Yeddyurappa had lost his political balance. He also said the chief minister’s present stand was to favour businessman and Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekhar, who now heads the war memorial committee.

 Yeddyurappa also admitted on the floor of the House that he had wrongly accused Congress leaders R V Deshpande and R L Jalappa of being involved in illegal mining.
He said Deshpande’s son Prasad and Jalappa’s son-in-law Ashok had obtained lease for mining in Chiknayakanahalli taluk in Tumkur district.

The apology was as per the demands of the Congress leaders who wanted the chief minister to express his regret at the floor of the House, when Yeddyurappa apologised for his remarks against Deshpande and Jalappa at a press conference on Thursday.

The last day of the session saw unsavoury behaviour of MLAs and joint attack of both the Congress and the JD(S) against the ruling BJP over the illegal mining issue.
The session was to extend till July 30, but was cut short due to ongoing dharna by the Congress and the JD(S).