Land 'grab' by HDK: Revenue Dept begins clearance drive

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader on Tuesday criticised the absence of Ministers in the House, saying it undermines the dignity of the government. He sought to know why Ministers choose to hold their positions if they cannot come to the Assembly sessions and take part in the discussions on time. Responding to opposition BJP's criticism of the government, he said most Ministers were absent in the Assembly, other than a few. "... The Ministers should be present in the House, no one can tolerate their absence. Ministers are bringing down the dignity of this government. By not coming to the House on time, Ministers are causing disrespect to the government, despite good works," he said from the Chair.

Pointing out that no Minister other than Krishna Byre Gowda was present in the House on Monday evening, he said his presence facilitated some legislative business. "Why become a Minister when they don't like to come to the House on time? Send someone who can come (on time as Ministers). They want to become Ministers, but they can't answer or stand on behalf of the government in the Assembly, what should be done?" he wondered.

The Speaker remarked that opposition criticism on the issue cannot be dismissed. When Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil arrived in the House, Khader said, "When the Chief Minister is in the House, all Ministers come, it is not required, as the Chief Minister can manage things. They (Ministers) should come, when the CM is not there. What is the use of (Ministers) coming when he (CM) is here, and leaving when he is not there." Earlier, as Leader of Opposition R Ashoka initiated a discussion on the law and order situation, BJP MLA Sunil Kumar criticised the government pointing at the empty treasury benches. "Who is there in the House to question this government?,'' he askedNT Correspondent Bengaluru The state Revenue Department on Tuesday initiated measures to clear the encroachment of 14.04 acres of land in Ramanagara district in Karnataka, allegedly by the family of Union Minister Kumaraswamy, official sources said. Kumaraswamy, who holds steel and heavy industries' portfolio, called the government action an act of "vendetta politics" and said he would fight it out legally. The union minister said he had purchased the parcel of land 40 years ago and more than 100 inquiries have taken place on it.

Following the High Court's direction to reclaim government land from encroachment, the Revenue Department, in coordination with district authorities and the police department, deployed earthmovers at Kumaraswamy's farmhouse at Kethaganahalli at Bidadi in Ramanagara district, which is adjacent to Bengaluru, and started the drive. Speaking to reporters, Deputy Commissioner of Ramanagara district, Yashwanth Gurukar said, "We are working here to reclaim the land based on the High Court direction about encroachment in some survey numbers here (Kethaganahalli)." He said the encroachment is more than 14 acres, whose details would be submitted to the court. In January this year, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the encroachment of government land in Kethaganahalli.

The SIT found that 14.04 acres of land in survey numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 79 had been encroached upon, based on a joint survey conducted by the Revenue Department and the Survey Settlement Department, sources said. The encroachment case is pending before the High Court.During a hearing on Monday, the court took a strong view of the failure to implement its eviction order.