Bengaluru: Former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Kumaraswamy on Monday challenged the state government to order a probe into his alleged land encroachment.
Speaking with media persons, Kumaraswamy said that Congress and BJP have been indulging in character assassination by misusing the government machinery and influencing social activists. “I respect social activist S R Hiremath. I do not have any grudge against him for making allegations against me. I came to know that two government officials gave the documents relating to my land near Bidadi to Hiremath. I am challenging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa and other government officials to order a probe into the allegations against me,’’ Kumaraswamy said.
The former chief minister said that he owns only 46 acres and 27 guntas and not as alleged by social activist Hiremath. “I started my career as a garbage contractor in Bengaluru. Later I became Kannada film distributor. The land was bought with my hard-earned money. Many farmers wanted to sell their land to me but I refused to buy their land,’’ the former chief minister said.
He said Congress and BJP leaders have began smear campaign against him as soon as he advised media persons to contact BJP state president Yeddyurappa to know the details about the source of money seized on Vidhana Soudha premises. “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should be ashamed for not revealing the truth about the source of the money seized on the Vidhana Soudha premises. Former law minister Suresh Kumar had blamed me for mentioning Yeddyurappa’s name. I did not tell that money belongs to Yeddyurappa. I only told that Yeddyurappa can provide the details about the source of that money,’’ he said.
Hiremath’s permission
Commenting on social activist Hiremath’s advice on visiting North Karnataka, Kumaraswamy said Hiremath, while addressing media persons, advised me to visit North Karnataka only after returning the land to scheduled caste farmers. “I did not indulge in any irregularities while purchasing the land. The state government had already probe the issue by the CID and the Lokayukta. The Assistant Commissioner of Ramanagar had also submitted a report on the land issue. So where is the question of returning the land to the scheduled caste farmers? I want to tell social activist Hiremath that I do not require his permission to visit North Karnataka,’’ he said.
Orphanage
He said that he has a plan to utilize 46 acres and 27 guntas land near Bidadi for the benefit of poor and needy people. “I have a plan to construct an orphanage on the land for the benefit poor and needy people,’’ he said.
