JD(S) bays for CM's blood over land denotification

The JD(S) Karnataka unit today demanded resignation of chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, accusing him of indulging in “favouritism and abuse of power” for “ordering” denotification of lands held by his two sons which had been acquired by Bangalore Development Authority.

Yeddyurappa took active role in forcing authorities to bend rules to register 26 guntas (0.65 acre) each in the name of his two sons, former Chief minister and state unit JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy alleged at a press meet here. The lands registered cannot be purchased as they had already been acquired by BDA and the Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner had passed orders awarding Rs 17.18 lakh compensation to the original owners, he said.

The land, at Rachenahally in K R Puram taluk, which had been notified by BDA was not in the possession of its owners — Gowramma and Panduranga — from whom Yeddyurappaa’s sons purchased it, and in fact was held by former housing minister S N Krishanaiah Setty through a general power of attorney (GPA), he charged.

These transactions had taken place on March 16, 2006, when Yeddyurappa was the deputy chief minister in the JD(S)-BJP coalition government led by him (Kumaraswamy), and the lands were ordered to be denotified by Yeddyurappa when he became chief minister in 2008, the JD(S) chief said.

Similarly, Setty also became beneficiary by getting 16 guntas (0.4 acres) denotified for the “favours” he showed to Yeddyurappa’s son in purchasing the lands over which he is the GPA holder, Kumaraswamy alleged. “This is only a tip of the iceberg.There are more such scandals in this government. We will bring them out. We will inform the Governor about this”, he said.

Demanding Yedyurappa’s resignation on moral grounds, Kumaraswamy said, “he has no right to continue in power for a minute.” Yeddyurappa has denotified 2,300 acres since 2008 after he became Chief minister, he charged. “Let Yeddyurappa order Lokayukta probe into this,” he said.