JD (S)-BJP stand-off on BMIC row ends

The stand-off between the coalition partners JD (S) and BJP in Karnataka over the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project ended with the JD (S) deciding to drop its proposal to bring in a piece of legislation to take-over the controversial project.

A decision to back down on its bid to introduce a Bill in the ensuing session of the State Legislature was taken late on Sunday night at the JD (S) Legislature Party meeting attended by the party’s national President and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

JD (S) MLC and spokesperson Y S V Datta told reporters that the party had dropped the idea of introducing a Bill, but the added that the coalition Government would fight a legal battle against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), which is implementing the BMIC project, and force it to confine its project to the original framework agreement.

JD (S) decision to back down on its proposal to take over the Rs 23 billion project comes in the face of stiff opposition from its coalition partner the BJP.

Meanwhile, the BJP remained steadfast on its stand against a Government take-over of the project. The BJP Legislature Party meeting held in Bangalore on Monday proposed a three-point formula to its coalition partner JD (S) on the BMIC project.

Speaking to reporters after the BJP’s Legislature Party meeting, senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu said the party was of the firm opinion that the BMIC project should not be scrapped or taken over by the Government. Secondly, the excess land should be identified and handed back to the farmers. And thirdly, since NICE was making a “windfall”, the private company should undertake social responsibility by providing houses to the affected and taking up community services.

Naidu said the party would convey its stand to its coalition partner JD (S). “We are sure they will appreciate our view. In principle, we want the project”, he added.

The confrontation between the coalition partners JD (S) and the BJP on the BMIC issue ended just before the monsoon session of the Karnataka Legislature could begin on Monday.

But, proceedings of the Assembly began on a stormy note on Monday with the Opposition Congress mounting a scathing attack on the coalition Government on the BMIC issue and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Soon after the House met, former Chief Minister Dharam Singh referred to the claims made by Kumaraswamy that the Managing Director of NICE Ashok K Kheny had tried to bribe him through a journalist. “The Chief Minister had no moral right to continue in power as he had failed to take action against the Managing Director of NICE and the journalist, who had tried to bribe him”.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M Mallikarjun Kharge joined Dharam Singh and argued that a person who fails to report bribery cases to the police is also guilty under the Indian Penal Code. “The Chief Minister has committed an offence by not reporting the matter to the police. He may plead ignorance of the provisions of law. A person ignorant of law has no right to hold the office of the Chief Minister”, he said.

But, Kumaraswamy declared that he would not resign. “I will not run away. I am not a coward. I will reply to your allegation at an appropriate time”, he said. But, pandemonium broke out in the House with JD (S) members and Congress members clashing over the issue, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for some time.