Yeddy regime accused of siphoning off JNNURM funds
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, Dec 13: Former chief minister and Karnataka Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Kumaraswamy has accused the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP regime of siphoned off funds sanctioned under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) by the Centre for Bangalore City’s infrastructure development.
Addressing the media on Sunday after admitting 14 Congress and BJP leaders into the party, he said the state government had has no commitment for completing roads, flyovers, underpasses and metro works sanctioned to the City during the JD(S)-BJP coalition government headed by him.
With the long-delayed elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) finally scheduled to be held on February 21, the JD(S) is making a strong pitch to win as many seats possible and is therefore targeting the Yeddyurappa regime on the infrastructure development front as it hopes to catch the imagination of the publicly aware Bangaloreans by raising corruption issues.
Kumaraswamy, who is keen on a tie-up between his JD(S) and Congress in the BBMP polls too on the lines of the similar understanding reached for the 25 state legislative council seats on December 18, said the government had received several hundreds of crores of rupees under the JNNURM from the Centre. But all infrastructure related works have come to a standstill, he alleged.
Internal differences within the ruling BJP and the lack of commitment on the part of the government was responsible for tardy progress of various works in the City. The electorate would teach a fitting lesson to the BJP in the coming BBMP polls, he said.
However, he made it clear that JD (S) would go alone in the ensuing BBMP polls.
"It is for the Congress leaders to decide whether they want an alliance or understanding with our party in the BBMP polls. As far as we are concerned, we are fully geared to face the elections on our own and prove our strength in the city,’’ he said pointing out that the JD(S) was confident of the people extending their support.
Kumaraswamy, who gave up his Ramanagaram assembly seat and won from Bangalore north lok sabha seat on the strength of the JD(S) pull among the largely Vokkaliga dominated voters in and around the city, called upon party leaders to galvanise the workers to strengthen the party in the city.
After delaying the BBMP polls for over three years on one pretext or the other especially during the last two years, he said the Yeddyurappa regime has finally decided to hold polls on February 21. He told the party workers to highlight the works sanctioned by the JD(S)-BJP government during the BBMP poll campaign.
On the illegal mining issue, the JD (S) leader said the party would raise the issue in the state legislature session commencing from Monday.
He condemned BJP’s ``resort politics" and said voters in the elections to the legislative council from local authorities’ constituencies have been provided accommodation at resorts by the ministers from the Bellary district.
As many as 93 candidates are in the fray for the biennial elections to 23 seats from 19 local authorities’ constituencies in the Legislative Council. Elections would be held on December 18. The Congress and JD(S) have already won a seat each from the undivided Dakshina Kannada, which has double seats, unopposed in view of no other candidates remaining in the fray.