Bangalore: The Congress on Saturday complained to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the Janata Dal (S)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition had caused immense harm to the investment climate in the State by creating uncertainties with regard to the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project.

A party delegation led by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge called on Dr. Singh and said the BMIC project was in public interest. The confusion and even open hostility displayed by the two ruling parties had placed hurdles before the project. The two parties were opposing development projects launched by the Congress when in power. The disinformation campaign being carried on by the JD(S) leaders against the promoters of the project would end up hurting the State's image as an ideal destination for investment.

The two coalition partners were also attempting to corner credit for some other development projects initiated by the Congress.

The Congress leaders said the BJP and the JD(S) had no ideological commitment and the Government suffered from a dearth of experience and cooperation.

There was open hostility between the two parties, and it came to a head following the recent expansion of the Ministry.

Prime Minister thanked

The Congress team thanked the Prime Minister for showing his concern and regard for Karnataka and launching some mega developmental projects, which would have been lost owing to the hostility of some persons. The State Government was not serious about implementing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, it said.

Responding to a memorandum submitted by the delegation on the increase in prices, the Prime Minister said that the increase in prices of petroleum products was inevitable.

Otherwise it would have had a deleterious effect on the economy.

he price of petrol had risen from $23 a barrel in 2004 when the UPA came to power to $70 a barrel today.

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