Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged that a report by the Lokayukta police that probed the alleged MUDA scam had been manipulated to suit Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is the main accused in the case.
Fielding queries from reporters at a press conference in Mysuru on Monday, Mr. Kumaraswamy pointed out that the Lokayukta falls under the control of the government and its report had been orchestrated to suit Mr. Siddaramaiah’s convenience.
Regretting that “looters” go unpunished, Mr. Kumaraswamy said documents will reveal the truth.
Responding to questions on a probe against his land in Bidadi, Mr. Kumaraswamy took exception to the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising IAS officers by the State government for the purpose, while clarifying that he had purchased the land 40 years ago when he was a film distributor in Mysuru.
Making it clear that he was not afraid of the survey, Mr. Kumaraswamy even referred to a land issue pertaining to Sakamma in Hinkal and sought to know Mr. Siddaramaiah’s connection in the matter.
While listing out programmes announced by the Union government in the Budget, Mr. Kumaraswamy denied Mr. Siddaramaiah’s charges about discrimination against Karnataka.
The Union government has sanctioned funds for national highway projects, Railways, agriculture, cooperative and all departments for different States. “There is no discrimination between States,” he said while dubbing the charges as “false propaganda”.
Mr. Kumaraswamy also criticised Mr. Siddaramaiah for passing the blame for the recent hike in metro fares onto the Centre. Claiming that the State government had recommended to the Centre to increase the fares, the Union Minister asked why were the metro fares not raised in other States.
He said the State government, which had hiked bus fares, was now planning to increase the prices of milk and also water tariff. But no development was taking place in the State, he claimed.
Alleging that the government was hiking transport fares and prices of essentials to support its guarantee programmes, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he can give ₹10,000 instead of ₹2,000 per month to the women heads of families below poverty line if the public was burdened.
Referring to Mr. Siddaramaiah’s recent announcement on issue of B-khatas for properties in unauthorised layouts, Mr. Kumaraswamy asked what was the urgency when a court case was pending.
He claimed that the government was hard-pressed for revenue as the treasury was empty.
Mr. Kumaraswamy also called for punishment to the persons, who had pelted stones at the Udayagiri police station in Mysuru.
Yaduveer Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru MP, former Ministers S.R. Mahesh and C.S. Puttaraju were also present during the press conference.
