HD Deve Gowda goes on fast for CBI probe into activist death

Former prime minister and JDS chief HD Deve Gowda Tuesday  observed a day's fast in Bangalore demanding a CBI inquiry into the recent murder of a man who was protesting against Bangalore-Mysore expressway project.

Gowda, who went on the fast in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue here, alleged that the firm implementing the controversial Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, was behind the killing of Siddalinga Prabhu.

He also alleged that the firm Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) was threatening and harassing farmers in collusion with state police.

Gowda claimed the state government failed to take cognisance of a letter written by senior Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan to the state government last year complaining about the threat to Prabhu, who was hacked to death on October 17.

Inspite of an FIR filed against NICE chief Ashok Kheny and his men, police took no action, Gowda, who himself has been carrying on a sustained campaign against the project alleging alleging irregularities in land acquisition, said.

He said he would the raise the issue in the ongoing winter session of Parliament and also meet leaders of regional parties in Delhi and discuss 'irregularities' in the BMIC project.