Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday alleged that the present BJP government and three of its ministers are gifting the state’s natural resources to Andhra Pradesh.

In a press conference held in the city on Monday, Deve Gowda alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government has encroached upon a 36-km-long and half a km wide land strip in the border district of Bellary.

The JD(S) has organised a protest at Jakkarayanakere on March 7 to demand for a survey of the border area.

Besides party members, environmentalists, literary persons and leaders from various other political parties will also participate in the protest.

Gowda said, “After the protest we will submit a memorandum to the governor and through him we will also send a memorandum to the president as well.”

He said that three ministers in Yeddyurappa cabinet owned a mining firm in Andhra Pradesh and were furthering their vested interests in promoting this encroachment.

He said, “The BJP government has surrendered 36 km of the state's land (on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border) to the mining firm owned by revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy, his brother and tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy and their close aide, health minister B Sriramulu, who are all into the mining business.”

Srikanth Hunasavadi/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication