CM: ready for probe, session debate

BANGALORE: Chief minister B S Yeddyruappa on Monday said he would put forward two suggestions to the opposition. "One, I propose to ask a retired SC judge to probe the allotments of land in the last 10 years. Before that, I will elicit the opinion of the opposition leaders on the proposal.”
"Two, I am ready to debate the issue in the legislature session for two to three days.Let them decide."
Citing past instances, he said: "It's not that only Yeddyurappa has allotted lands to his family members to take up business activities and set up industries. Several other CMs had in the past allotted lands to their near and dear ones for various activities. After all, land is an essential component of any economic activity."
"It is true that land to an extent of 1 acre 16 guntas out of the denotified lands measuring 13 acre 24 guntas at Rachenahalli village was bought by my sons from the owners. The opposition leaders raised a hue and cry over this. In the same village and in one single day, May 4, 2007, the Kumaraswamy government de-notified 60 acres of land in favour of Manyata Tech Park Ltd. I would like to know whose interests were protected by such an act?" he said.
Justifying his action, he said: "Some of the relatives, including sons of former CMs and ministers, like Prasad R Deshpande, J Mahima Patel, G Parameshwara, T Prabhakar, Balakrishne Gowda and V G Siddhartha were allotted lands in and around Bangalore previously.
"The peripheral ring road map was altered many times by the Kumaraswamy government in order to save the benami lands owned by the members of H D Deve Gowda family."
He thundered: "I will ensure that both Congress and JD(S) sit in the opposition for another 20 years. We will sweep the ZP/TP polls."
Referring to the dissidents' demand for his ouster, he said: "It's like the demons reciting Bhagawadgita."
He warned: "The documents I have released today against the opposition is just a tip of the iceberg. It's just 1%. Let them digest this first."
He found no comparison between Adarsh scam and the land scams in Karnataka. "There is a lot of difference between the two. You cannot compare both."