Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said that Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was not pitted against the Congress but instead fighting to ensure that the BJP did not exist.
Shivakumar’s comment came at a media interaction near the Nehru Planetarium here in response to queries on Kumaraswamy’s allegation that the government was involved in the alleged KPSC recruitment scam.
“Kumaraswamy is not fighting against us. He is fighting against the BJP. Let him perform his duty. Let him make whatever allegations he wants to make,” he said.
On Kumaraswamy’s claim that he would release documents that would cause an upheaval, Shivakumar simply responded, “Very happy.”
On the BJP’s proposed padayatra, he said the party was free to undertake it and indicated that the Congress would announce its own programme later.
“Let them undertake the padayatra. After that, I will tell you what our yatra will be. Aren’t we politicians? Let them start. We had given them respect and conducted the Assembly session, but they did not discuss any issue,” he said.
He added that the government now intends to discuss the K. Kasturirangan report (on the Western Ghats) and issues concerning farmers and would seek the views of legislators on the matter.
On the arrest of BJP leaders in connection with the alleged KPSC recruitment scam, Shivakumar said he would not interfere in the investigation but would obtain information about the case.
“I will not interfere in the investigation. I will get information. There is an internal conflict within the BJP. Who appointed the KPSC members? I cannot reveal the complete information until the entire report is submitted. Let them say whatever they want. Time will answer them,” he said.
On the government’s proposed ‘sixth guarantee’, the Land Guarantee scheme, Shivakumar clarified that it would not be restricted to Bengaluru.
“The Land Guarantee is not limited to Bengaluru. It will apply to everyone who has sacrificed their property for the government. Their names should be permanently recorded, and they should be provided appropriate compensation. They should also be given greater benefits on the land they possess. This should apply to all landowners in the state,” he said.
Shivakumar said the government was making arrangements to provide beneficiaries with proper documents containing their photographs and other necessary details.
“By documents, I mean that everything should be legally valid. Even when converting a B-Khata into an A-Khata, there must be legal validity. The documents must be legally valid. If there is a bogus registration, it cannot be done,” he clarified.
He said providing legally valid documents would help beneficiaries protect their property rights in the future.
“We have made arrangements to provide them with proper documents within the framework of the law. This is because, in the future, they may have to transfer their property, obtain a loan or divide the property among family members. There are several such possibilities. The government must ensure that their rights and properties remain secure,” Shivakumar said.
He added that the initiative had been started during the previous Siddaramaiah government when Krishna Byre Gowda was the Revenue Minister and was now being continued by the present government.
(IANS)
