The panel, headed by energy minister D.K. Shivakumar, has not been functioning properly
JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy speaks to the media in Bengaluru on Saturday (Photo: DC)
BENGALURU: Irked by freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy’s statement that leaders of Opposition parties were adopting double standards on the demolition drive in Bengaluru because they had accepted suitcases (money) from those who grabbed government land, JD(S) leader H.D Kumaraswamy on Saturday challenged the nonagenarian, saying he would retire from active politics if he were named as one such leader.
He told the media here: “If Mr. Doreswamy announces my name among those who received suitcase from land grabbers, I will retire from active politics after touching his feet. I am deeply hurt and shocked by the statement of Mr. Doreswamy because he will not make such statements without evidence. I have taken his statement seriously, and request him to name me in public if I have taken suitcases from land grabbers and capitalists. If I had compromised with capitalists, why should I raise my voice against encroachment of lake beds and government land? I constituted a committee headed by A.T. Ramaswamy in 2007, and tabled its report in the House. Later, I brought a Bill to punish officials involved in land grabbing.”
Taking dig at law minister T.B. Jayachandra, the former chief minister asked how he could direct the House committee headed by K.B. Koliwad to submit an interim report on encroachment.
“Earlier, I had requested the House panel to suggest to the state government to stop the demolition drive at Sarakki till the panel submits its report, but other members of the panel did not agree. Then, I wrote to the Chief Minister to stop the demolition”, he added.
He charged that in the name of demolition of illegal constructions, poor people lost their houses, but the powerful real estate mafia was let off the hook. He said he would meet Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa and appeal to him to set right the House panel constituted to probe wrongdoing in power purchase since 2004.
The panel, headed by energy minister D.K. Shivakumar, has not been functioning properly, he said adding “If the Speaker fails to set right the House panel, I will resign from that panel”, he added.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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