H D Kumaraswamy.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday dared Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to reveal the partners of Sobha Developers, which has executed a project near Hosakerehalli in the land originally notified for NICE project.
Responding to the recent statement by Shivakumar of reviving NICE project, Kumaraswamy demanded Shivakumar to reveal who had de-notified and grabbed the land belonging to farmers which was originally notified to NICE project first. “Who had asked them not to continue the project? Why were they silent all these years? why are they blaming Deve Gowda for it now?,” he said.
Kumaraswamy questioned the Congress government as to where is the report of the House committee on NICE project headed by T B Jayachandra? “The committee had recommended taking the entire project into the government’s custody, but what action was taken on the report?” he said.
He alleged that the House Committee head T B Jayachandra was threatened with life. “Jayachandra committee even recommended CBI investigation into the entire project, but he was threatened for life and a complaint regarding the same was also filed. Let the Deputy Chief Minister reveal, who threatened Jayachandra? and also the status of the case filed by Jayachandra,” the Union Minister demanded.
On revival of HMT, KIOCL
Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy accused the government of spreading false information about Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) and Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL) and dared CM Siddaramaiah and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre to come for a open discussion.
“I will write to the CM demanding to convene a meeting to discuss the issue. If there are any issues, I will take responsibility,” he said. He asked Khandre to stop misleading people and urged him to study documents, understand facts.
“The minister must stop doing petty politics. Several industries are relocating from the state because of such statements and stands,” he added.
‘No govt vehicle for JD(S) MPs’
Kumaraswamy alleged discrimination by the Congress government against JD(S) MPs. He said JD(S) MP from Kolar Mallesh Babu is not provided with a vehicle from the government, but all other MPs have received new cars.
“Neither I nor Mallesh Babu have received the car. This is the kind of politics Congress is indulging into,” the minister added.