BJP went soft on NICE in 2007, says C T Ravi

Bengaluru: Stung by the comments of  BJP general secretary, C T Ravi on his "U-turn" on  the controversial Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday recalled that BJP leaders had boycotted the Cabinet meeting in 2007 when he had proposed takeover of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project from the company .

"During my previous tenure as Chief Minister I had proposed taking over the project, but 17 to 18 BJP ministers boycotted the Cabinet meeting in protest and now they are accusing me of  adjustment politics (pandering to his coalition partner, the Congress). It is they who are experts at it," he said, speaking to reporters here. 

While agreeing that a House committee had given a report on NICE's execution of the  BMIC project, Mr Kumaraswamy pointed out  that the government could not act unless it was passed by the legislature. "We will take action based on the committee's report after it is passed in both Houses of the legislature," he assured. Refusing to comment on claims by former BJP minister, B Janardhan Reddy that he was being unduly hounded in the Ambident case, Mr Kumaraswamy said it was beneath his dignity to respond to such charges from somebody like him.

"The government has never interfered in the Ambident case. The police have been given a free hand in investigating all cases. Mr Reddy has alleged that 1500 police were sent to arrest him, but I don't know how many were involved. If I wanted to take revenge against him, I could have done it 12 years ago,'' he contended.