Hassan: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda Monday said he would participate in JD(S) protest against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Road at Freedom Park in Bengaluru scheduled for Tuesday.Speaking to reporters at Holenarasipur, he said he had fought against the project for years and would speak in detail about the issue.Union minister HD Kumaraswamy alleged that NICE had failed to complete the promised 111-km project even after 30 years and claimed that the project was aimed at acquiring valuable land rather than merely constructing roads.Kumaraswamy also claimed that NICE had misled govt and officials. He questioned who was now planning to take over the company and alleged that powerful interests were behind the move.He further claimed that more than Rs 2,000 crore had been collected through allegedly illegal toll operations and questioned why govt had not taken action despite a recent court verdict.Kumaraswamy also criticised Congress leaders over the controversy surrounding Vande Mataram, saying all political parties should respect the national song at govt functions.
