CM's decision on Posco gets party nod

The BJP state executive which began at Gokul garden here on Friday endorsed chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s decision to stop acquisition of land for setting up Posco Steel plant in Gadag district.

The meeting which discussed the issue at length decided that the government would not acquire land for any project if the farmers were unwilling to part with their land. “There would be no forcible acquisition of land,” said BJP spokesperson Ayanur Manjunath. The meeting devoted much of its time during its meet to accuse the UPA government at the Centre of not cooperating with the state government in development activities.

The meeting chaired by BJP state president K S Eshwarappa accused the Centre of not clearing several development projects sent by Karnataka.

Ayanur Manjunath, who briefed reporters about the proceedings, said the meeting condemned the Centre’s stepmotherly attitude towards Karnataka and urged it to approve the proposals and release the necessary funds.

He said, the Centre had not cleared the Rs 1,400 crore proposal for construction of roads under PMGSY and was not granting permission and funds for 16 power generation projects. Under Central Road fund, 21 major projects were awaiting the Centre’s approval while proposals on railway projects were languishing though the state government had paid its share of amount.

The meeting also took exception to the Congress and JD(S) MPs and Union ministers representing Karnataka for not raising their voice against the injustice done to Karnataka. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy who are MPs never speak out on behalf of Karnataka in Parliament, the executive committee alleged. Thirteen projects, including five railway projects, four airport proposals and Bangalore Metro were awaiting financial assistance from the Centre.

Earlier in the morning, K S Eshwarappa, who inaugurated the two-day meet called upon the party cadres to be prepared for elections which were due in 2013. He said, the executive meeting aimed at discussing measures to strengthen the party and bring it back to power with clear majority and continue its work for the state. Chief minister Yeddyurappa expressed confidence that his government would continue to work despite several odds.