The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Dharam Singh does not share JD(S) views'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 25, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Dharam Singh does not share JD(S) views'

Special Correspondent

JD(S) leader aiming at consolidation political base: B.K. Chandrashekar

B.K. Chandrashekar

BANGALORE: The academic-turned-Congress legislator B.K. Chandrashekar is of the view that Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh has not endorsed H.D. Deve Gowda's views on issues such as allotment of land to the IT giant Infosys and the proposed Bangalore metro rail.

Mr. Gowda has made allegations against Infosys Chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy stating that his company obtained land at concessional rates in the name of information technology development. If the Chief Minister has maintained a stoic silence on Mr. Gowda's allegations, it is a clear indication that he does not support Mr. Gowda's charges. The latter is aiming at consolidating his political base by taking a pro-rural and anti-urban stance. The Janata Dal (S) has not provided any evidence on the purchase of land by Infosys at subsidised rates. Mr. Murthy has rebutted Mr. Gowda's charges point by point, Prof. Chandrashekar said, speaking to The Hindu .

Prof. Chandrashekar had the held the portfolio of information technology in the S.M. Krishna Ministry for a short while.

Mr. Gowda also charged Mr. Murthy with doing little to push the Bangalore International Airport Project at Devanahalli as Chairman of Bangalore International Airport Ltd. The decade-old project reached financial closure primarily because of the networking ability of Mr. Murthy with successive Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers, Prof. Chandrashekar said. On Mr. Gowda's allegation that the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna and his supporters are using the Infosys chief to destabilise the Government, he said Mr. Gowda is unnecessarily dragging Mr. Murthy's name into the picture.

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