Differences have cropped up within the Congress over the proposed SEZ at Nandagudi, with senior party leader D K Shiva Kumar expressing displeasure over opposition leader Dharam Singh’s stand on the issue in the Assembly.

Speaking to the media, Kumar criticised Dharam for softening the party’s stand by saying that the Congress had no objection to the SEZ after the Centre gave its nod to the controversial project spread over 12,500 acres on the outskirts of Bangalore.

“Sathanur (Kumar’s constituency) or Nandagudi are not like Raichur or Gulbarga. The situation here is different. Farmers are not willing to give their fertile lands for the project,” Kumar said, virtually asking Dharam to stay away from making hasty statements without realising the gravity of the situation.