I'm not against the Army, let them compensate me: MP

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Belgaum, Suresh Angadi, who is locked in an eight-year-old battle with the Indian Army against the Bagdad Asmara Field Firing Range, said on Thursday that he would give up all his claims, if compensated adequately. Responding to Express' queries over his suspected role in 'arm-twisting' the Karnataka government, as alleged by the Army, Angadi said that he is being portrayed in bad light by those who are ignorant of the core issue.

“I am an Indian and I love my jawans. I am not against the Indian Army. It is not a fight between a BJP MP and the Army as being reported by the media,” Angadi said. But, the BJP MP was quick to take on the Army. “They have been firing on the road for many years. The farmers are deprived of their livelihood. The Army officers are misleading the government. I have the facts,” Angadi said.

When asked if he used his influence as an MP over the Karnataka government to get the land denotified, Angadi said: “Let the Army acquire the private lands and compensate me and others adequately. I have no issues with it. I have raised this issue in Parliament and Defence Minister Antony is aware of it. In Kerala too, there's a similar issue.”

On why he built the Angadi Institute of Technology and Management without an NOC, as being pointed out by the Army, the MP said that he went by the the provisions of the law. “The Army has given many others NOC to undertake construction activities adjacent to the firing range. Why are they harping on the fact the I don't have an NOC? We have offered another range to the Army (Ramdurga, 11 km away from Belgaum) long time back but the Army refused to go,” Angadi said.

The MP also claimed that a Karnataka Housing Board colony and an Army Welfare colony are coming up in the vicinity of the firing range. He said that in 2008, the Army had agreed to construct a baffle range (covered area to prevent stray injuries), but did nothing later. “They built a huge wall spending crores instead,” the MP said.

The government had recently denotified the land given to the Army, which was originally earmarked as a firing range till 2020.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Battle of Belgaum: Upset Army readies for a legal fight with Karnataka govt

                                             By Anantha Krishnan M
                                              Express News Service
Bangalore: Hit by the Karnataka government's decision to withdraw the land used by the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC) as a firing range in Belgaum, the Indian Army is keeping the gun powder dry to take the battle to the court. Army sources told Express on Tuesday that the government's decision to withdraw the land that houses the Bagdad Asmara Field Firing Range was 'unilateral' and not in the 'interest of the nation.'
The government last month had issued an order withdrawing a 12-year-old communication (May 24, 2000) permitting the Army to use the land for artillery and field firing purposes (7469 acres). “We had the permission till 2020 and we are surprised by the speed at which the government acted on the matter. We are not running away and will take the battle to the court,” sources said.
The Army now says that the training sessions for its men posted to MLIRC and the commandos attached to Junior Leaders Wing (JLW), will go for a toss. “Our firing ranges have come down drastically all over India and we can't let the training sessions suffer. Belgaum unit and the JLW are on the international map, with foreign troops regularly coming to undertake joint training sessions with the Indian Army. The MoD could have acted faster and grasped the seriousness of the issue,” sources said.
The Land, Works and Environment wing at the Army HQ in Delhi will prepare a plan to counter the state government's decision, say sources. Army is of the opinion that state government came under pressure from Belgaum MP Suresh Angadi, who has wanting the firing range to be shifted out.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)