Thaindian News

Bangalore, July 12 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is now facing heat from religious leaders against his government’s ambitious land acquisition plans for industry and infrastructure.

While one religious leader Tuesday threatened indefinite fast from Wednesday against land takeover for a special economic zone (SEZ) in coastal Karnataka, three others are leading an agitation against land acquisition for POSCO steel plant in Gadag in the northern part of the state.

Hundreds of farmers around Mysore, in south Karnataka, Tuesday staged a rally in front of the district administration office in the city of palaces, about 130 km from Bangalore, opposing the move to take over their fertile land for various infrastructure projects.

“If Yeddyurappa does not withdraw the notification for acquisition of 2,035 acres of land for Mangalore special economic zone by this (Tuesday) evening, I will launch an indefinite fast from tomorrow,” Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math told reporters here.

Pejawar Math is in the temple town of Udupi, about 60 km from Mangalore, the main town in coastal Karnataka.

The Pejawar pontiff claimed that Yeddyurappa had “promised” him three days back that he will withdraw the notification for land acquisition in Mangalore, some 350 km from here, by July 10. “It has not been done. Hence I will start the fast at Mangalore Wednesday,” he said.

The religious leader said he is also backing the farmers’ agitation in Gadag, around 400 km from Bangalore, against giving their land for setting up of a steel plant by POSCO, the South Korean steel giant.

The government plans to acquire over 3,500 acres in and around Halligudi village in Gadag for the plant in which POSCO has proposed an investment of Rs.30,000 crore.

Farmers in the area have been agitating against it and are now being backed by heads of three ‘maths’ - Siddalinga Swami of Thontada Math, Annadanishwar Swami of Mundargi Math and Shivakumar Swami of Nandiveri Math.

Efforts by state Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani and by Women and Child Development Minister C.C. Patil, who is also in charge of Gadag, to win over the farmers have so far not yielded results. Patil met the Thontada Math head and farmers July 9, but his plea to end the agitation was rejected.

Yeddyurappa is away in New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday over the power shortage in the state.

The Congress, the main opposition party in the state, is also supporting the Gadag farmers and is backing the shutdown called for Friday by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Karnataka state farmers’ association).