Stepping up his offensive against Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today accused him and his associates of "colluding, cheating and grabbing" over 4,800 acres of land for the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway and hurting farmers' interests.
Gowda admitted using provocative words "bloody bastard" against the Chief Minister yesterday but said he had withdrawn it soon thereafter.
He said the "agony" of the farmers who were being pushed into "misery" had forced him to use such harsh words.
"The company personnel, the Advocate General of the state and the Chief Minister have colluded, cheated and grabbed 4,884 acres of land," he said.
Gowda was referring to the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Limited (NICE) project for the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway.
The JD(S) leader alleged that a senior lawyer has "misled" the Supreme Court to get favourable orders despite a 2004 order passed against the company.
He said NICE wants to "build a mahal (palace) by burying the farmers."
Meanwhile, state unit BJP sought to step up the pressure on Gowda to tender an apology for the "derogatory" outbursts.
BJP workers held a dharna at the busy Basaweshwara circle near Vidhan Soudha, the state secretariat, this morning and chanted anti-Gowda slogans.
BJP leader D B Chandre Gowda told reporters that the former prime minister's remarks amount to an insult to the entire state and the people and he should tender an apology.
"NICE project is the baby of Devegowda. The MoU for the project was signed when Devegowda was the Chief Minister", Chandra Gowda, flanked by city BJP MLAs, said, adding, the former Prime Minister was raking up the issue with an eye on next month's polls to the city civic body, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
"Gowda is frustrated at losing power", Chandre Gowda said.