ENS
Bangalore, Jul 14: “I don't have to react to what that madman says,” said JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda reacting to a reported statement of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on the former's demand to nationalise mines.
It may be recalled that earlier, Yeddyurappa had said: “Why did he (Gowda) not nationalise mines when he was the Prime Minister?”
Gowda said: “When I was the PM, mining was confined to a few pockets and did not spread across the country to become a national menace.”
On his demand for nationalising mines, Gowda said that it had been a long-pending demand. “Only nationalisation can save our minerals and natural resources. There are no other ulterior motives,” he said.
Gowda remained noncommittal on extending support to the UPA Government. “I have not put forward any conditions to vote in favour of the Indo-US nuke deal,” he said, refusing to clarify his party's stand.
On the alleged poaching of MLAs by Bellary mining barons, Gowda said: “Such divisive politics by using money and vandalisation will not last long.”