CM-run trust got Rs 27 crore donation, says JD(S)

The JD(S) today levelled fresh allegations against Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa claiming that an educational trust run by him had received over Rs 27 crore as donation from companies, including some loss-making ones, which benefited from the government.

Senior JD(S) H D Kumaraswamy alleged that some loss- making companies had paid crores to Prerna Educational and Social Trust, formed by Yeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra. "Even BJP leaders know about these things. They are fighting corruption committed by UPA and at the same, they are shielding Yeddyurappa," Kumaraswamy told reporters here.

The press conference was also attended by Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), A B Bardhan (CPI) and Namo Nageswara Rao (TDP) among others. The leaders said they will raise the issue in Parliament. "The trust collected Rs 27.18 crore from Adarsh Developers, Industrial Techno Manpower Services Ltd (ITMS), M B Jayashankar of Adarsh, Prof Doraiswamy and his son Prof Jawahar, Real Technical Solutions and South West Mining Ltd among others," he said.

He alleged the Adarsh Developers have encroached lakes, canals and government land to built villas. "These donations were made by the companies for the favour they received from the government," Kumaraswamy alleged. He claimed that the Karnataka government has not recovered Rs 118 crore dues from JSW Steel, the joint venture partner of Mysore Minerals Ltd.

He said, ITMS which has a paid up capital of only Rs 1 lakh has donated Rs 3.4 crore to the Trust. "The compulsion for such huge donation by incurring losses is based on the fact that JSW Steel, a company under the same management, have obtained substantial gains by modification of an MoU on mining," he alleged.

Yechury said BJP was competing with UPA to come to power. "They are also competing with the UPA in the field of corruption. If the UPA has made Delhi the capital of country's corruption, BJP has made Karnataka the capital of corruption in south India," he said. Bardhan said BJP has no moral right to talk about corruption when it has not taken action against corrupt leaders. D Raja of CPI said Karnataka government is considered to be the most corrupt dispensation in the country. "BJP is pursuing double standards in fighting corruption," he said.