Siddu govt. following BJP policies, says Kumaraswamy

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh Vamanjoor)

September 3, 2013

Mangalore, Sep 3: Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whose government recently completed 100 days in office, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said “There have only been promises and nothing else. He [Siddaramaiah] is following the policies of the previous BJP government that he had criticised as an opposition leader.”

Kumaraswamy asserted that there will be no coalition with BJP or any other parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. “We will field candidates in all the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state and there is question of coalition with other parties,” he added.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said that although the loss encountered by arecanut growers in Dakshina Kannada district due to fruit rot disease was estimated at Rs 220 crores, the state government planned to sanction merely Rs 25 crore to compensate their loss.

Addressing mediapersons at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that arecanut growers in the state had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 3,230 crore due to excess rain and fruit rot disease in Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Karwar districts. However, the government has so far released only Rs 8.41 crores to the affected families. Over 1,67,000 families have been affected by failure of arecanut crop. As per NCRF guidelines, growers should be compensated with a sum of Rs 12,000 per hectare for over 5 percent crop failure. How will the government compensate affected growers by mere Rs 25 crores,” he argued, adding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had not visited any affected areas so far.

This shows how the government is responding to the problems of farmers in the state, he said, adding that JD(S) would launch state-wide agitation if the government failed to extend compensation to affected farmers within 15 days.

On his resignation from the post of JD(S) state president, Mr Kumaraswamy said that a core committee would be set up to choose the new state president of JD(S) within a day or two. “There is no change in my decision of quitting as the JD(S) state president. A core committee to select the new president will be set up and a list of 51 leaders has already been prepared. However, I have suggested reducing the number of core committee members to 15. A decision regarding new president for the state JD(S) unit will be taken within 2-3 days,” he said.

On the proposal of setting up a 4,000 MW ultra-mega power plant at Niddodi in Moodbidri, Kumaraswamy said that the government should shell the proposed project considering the opposition from local people. “The project should be taken up only after taking people into confidence,” he added.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

Comments