BENGALURU: Large scale irregularities have taken place in Shantinagar Housing co-operative society. The actual beneficiaries have not got the site. If the irregularities are not fixed there will be bloodshed, warned Gandhian and freedom fighter H. S. Doreswamy.
Ahead of the centenary celebration of Gandhi’s first visit to Bengaluru at the Jnanajyothi auditorium he said that the government had recovered about 65 acres of land from encroachers and it had not given even an inch of land to the poor but the land had been given to some influential people.
The same has been brought to the notice of Lokayukta. The opposition chose to sit quiet when the houses of poor people were bulldozed.
But when action had been initiated against land grabbers the behaviour of the opposition was suspect as they raised their voices opposing the demolition, he alleged.
The government’s decision to set up special courts to try land grabbers and punish them for at least two years is a welcome move.
When the bill against encroachers was brought about the builder lobby ensured that it was suppressed. The government should not bow down to pressure from realtors and land sharks.
He demanded that the government continue with their drive against encroachment and also urged it to allot houses to the poor and rehabilitate them if they have lost their houses.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that Gandhi Bhavan must be built in every district of the country and commended the efforts of Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi in spreading the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. He also expressed his displeasure on being unable to meet Gandhiji since he was born after Gandhiji’s death.
Apart from launching the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi website www.gandhibhavankarnataka.org he unveiled a magazine. The Central Postal Department released Gandhiji envelopes at the event.
On this day in 1915, Gandhiji came to Bengaluru from Madras with the help of Patil Shashtri for the first time. He then stayed at the Lalbagh Glasshouse for a day, said Mr. Siddaramaiah.
