Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project promoter Ashok Kheny’s induction into the Congress has given political ammunition to the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) ahead of the polls.
Farmers’ plight
Alleging that Mr. Kheny had joined the Congress at a time when pressure was building on the government to act against his company and withdraw the excess land allotted to the project, the BJP said it has decided to highlight the plight of land-losers of the project.
Farmers along the corridor have been alleging that they were paid paltry sums by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Ltd. (NICE) for their lands acquired for the project in Bengaluru.
BJP spokesperson S. Suresh Kumar said Mr. Kheny’s inclusion into the Congress fold would be added to the party’s agenda in its ongoing “Save Bengaluru” campaign. He said people of the State would “teach a lesson to the Congress” in the Assembly elections.
Describing this as an act of “double standards”, Mr. Kumar said the Congress had exposed its true colours.
‘Laughing stock’
JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy said the Congress has become a “laughing stock” by inducting Mr. Kheny, against whom an inquiry has been recommended by the Assembly committee.
He sought an explanation from the Congress on the rationale behind including Mr. Kheny in the party.
