No proposal to open more universities in Karnataka: Yeddyurappa

The Karnataka government has no immediate plans to open more universities, but would work at establishing those which have already been announced, chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said in Bangalore today.

"Efforts will be directed towards establishing those universities already announced and there will be no decision on opening new university at least till next year," he told reporters.

Yeddyurappa's remark came in the backdrop of a demand for establishing a University for Folklore arts, close on the heels of the government giving the nod to set up a Sanskrit University.

The chief minister rejected JDS leader HD Deve Gowda's allegation that he (Yeddyurappa) had reneged on his promise to facilitate a debate on the controversial Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), promoters of Bangalore-Mysore express highway project and also on the affairs of NICE.

"Nobody prevented the opposition from taking up the issue for debate", he said, a day after both houses of the legislature session were adjourned sine-die.

Gowda had hit out at Yeddyurappa for "betrayal" of his promise for a debate on NICE, on which he has been spearheading an agitation charging the BJP government with providing excess land.

The former prime minister even led 2000 farmers in a dharna at Delhi recently over the issue.