Gowda may ask farmers to go all out from next week; insiders say toll gates to be smashed, land taken over

The tussle over the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) high-speed road between the man behind it, Ashok Kheny, and Janata Dal (Secular) president Deve Gowda is poised to take a nasty turn with the politician deciding to resort to violent farmer protests from next week.

Going down different roads: JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda

According to Gowda's plan, farmers will start ploughing the land acquired by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Express (NICE) to build Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), after smashing the toll gates on the highway and demolishing the compound built around the land.

"Gowda is expected to address a press conference on February 7, when he will announce the next course of action," said a source close to Gowda. "I think a violent stir is imminent."

So far, Gowda and his farmer followers have been blocking the road to protest against NICE's alleged acquisition of land in excess of what was permitted. According to the court's order, NICE could get 21500 acres, while according to Gowda it has acquired 29,000 acres.

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