Ready to shift Gadag Posco project: Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE: In the wake of mounting protests from farmers of Gadag and opposition parties against acquiring lands for the proposed mega steel plant of Posco, Karnataka government today said it was ready to shift the project."If farmers of Gadag came forward voluntarily to give their dry lands, the government is willing to sanction it to Posco. If people of Gadag do not want that industry, I am willing to drop that and shift it to other districts. There is no need for any protest by farmers or by political parties," Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa told PTI here."The Posco project will be shifted to a district where farmers willingly give land," Yeddyurappa said expressing his displeasure over the protests that saw opposition Congress and JD-S joining it.Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister and JD-S leader H D Kumaraswamy said his party proposed to file a Public Interest Litigation against ruling BJP for allegedly grabbing fertile land under the guise of industrial development.Alleging a close nexus between the government and Korean steel major Posco, he warned JD-S would launch an agitation jointly with Thontadarya Mutt pontiff Siddalinga Swami, who is spearheading the farmers' movement, if the government continued acquiring these lands.Opposition Congress leader in the state Assembly Siddaramaiah also led a group of partymen met the pontiff and pledged his party's support. "I am not anti-farmer... I took oath in the name of farmers and extended them agricultural loans at one per cent interest. I have no intention to snatch away farmers land. The government will facilitate industrial growth in areas where farmers give land voluntarily. There will be no forcible acquisition," asserted Yeddyurappa.Meanwhile, farmers of Bagalkot district said they would also oppose the Posco project, if attempts were made to shift it to the district.