Under the attack from opposition over allegations that a trust run by his family received donations from some firms,chief minister B S Yeddyurappa today hit back, levelling charges pertaining to site allotment and illegal trading of iron ore against JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda’s family.
Speaking in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Yeddyurappa said on a single day during Gowda’s tenure as CM, 48 sites were allotted by Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to the former Prime Minister’s family. Yeddyurappa also sought to raise issues surrounding ‘BSK Trading company’, but could not be heard due to protests by JD(S) members and his statement was drowned in the din. BJP leaders in the past had alleged that BSK Trading company was owned by Gowda’s family members,including his son and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, and it was involved in illegal trading of iron ore and extorting money from mining owners when the latter was at the helm in the state.
The “father-son party has destroyed Karnataka”, Yeddyurappa said. The Congress and the JD(S) were raising the issue of Prerana Educational and Social Trust to “cover-up their own day-light robberies”, he said. The Congress and JD(S) staged a dharna in the Upper House demanding a CBI inquiry into the affairs of the Trust, in which Yeddyurappa’s sons were among the trustees.
The opposition earlier alleged that the trust received Rs 27.18 crore donation from a mining company and a real estate firm, among others, in exchange for government favours. Sparks flew in the Council, with some opposition members engaging in heated exchanges with excise minister M P Renukacharya objecting to certain remarks he made. With the Opposition continuing to stage dharna in the well of the House, several bills were passed without any debate. Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy later adjourned the House sine-die, a day before it was scheduled to conclude.
JD(S) leader and Kumaraswamy’s brother, H D Revanna, told reporters his party would file a petition before Governor H R Bhardwaj against Yeddyurappa in connection with “illegal donations” to the private trust.
The Chief Minister was hesitant for a debate and reluctant to order any kind of probe into the issue, he alleged. Revanna also said JD(S) would launch a state-wide agitation against the “corrupt BJP regime” and it would conclude with a ‘huge’ convention to be held at Shimoga, Yeddyurappa’s home town.
