The Hindu : Karnataka News : JD(S) to go ahead with rally

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Friday, Apr 29, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

JD(S) to go ahead with rally

Special Correspondent

People of Bangalore will not be inconvenienced, says Deve Gowda Special allocation of Rs. 500 crores to be sought from Centre for slum improvement

BANGALORE: The rally of slum dwellers, autorickshaw drivers, daily-wage workers and others being organised by the Janata Dal (Secular) here on Saturday will be held despite the notice served on the party by the Karnataka High Court.

The former Prime Minister and JD(S) President, H.D. Deve Gowda, told presspersons here on Thursday that the rally, contrary to the claim made in a public interest litigation petition filed in the High Court, will not cause any inconvenience to the people.

Mr. Gowda said around 50,000 people are expected to attend the "Daridra Narayana" rally.

He said he will write to the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, on the serious problems being faced by the slum dwellers and the ways in which the Government could help them lead a better life. He will then call on the Chief Minister to discuss the issue. He also intends to meet the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and request them for a special allocation of Rs. 500 crores to provide better amenities in the slums of Bangalore.

Asked about the cases of alleged land grabbing in and around Bangalore and what he proposes to do, Mr. Gowda said he has already brought one case to the notice of the Prime Minister since the land in question was made over to the Geological Survey of India by the State Government.

Referring to reports that he has taken up the land grabbing and slum dwellers' issues with an eye on the byelections for the Shimoga Lok Sabha and Chamarajpet Assembly seats, he said his campaign has nothing to do with the elections. "I cannot be a mere spectator when precious land in and around Bangalore is being grabbed. The city cannot be controlled by the land mafia and real-estate agents. They have not even spared the slums, and political parties have ignored the basic requirements of the poor, such as drinking water and shelter."

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