BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the BJP was mudslinging against the state government “out of frustration.”
After launching the Pulse Polio Immunisation programme at his official residence ‘Krishna’ on Sunday, Siddaramaiah said the people of the state had rejected the BJP in the 2013 Assembly elections.
“Frustrated with unblemished track record of our government, they (BJP) are now attacking us,” the chief minister said.
He also rubbished the charges made by the Opposition on him over the Arkavathy Layout denotification row. He said the notification was done as per the guidelines of the High Court.
“They (BJP) are clinging to the Arkavathy issue as they have no other issue to target the government,” he said. “The media too is giving more focus to the issue which has no substance,” he added.
On shortage of doctors in rural areas, Siddaramaiah said,” A proposal to recruit doctors is before the Finance Department and it is expected to be cleared soon.”
Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader was also present on the occasion.
Have Not Denotified Any Land: DVS
Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Sunday denied Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s allegation that former chief ministers from the BJP were involved in land denotification scams.
Speaking in Mysuru, he said he has not denotified even a small piece of land during his 11-month stint as the chief minister.
He further charged Siddaramaiah with levelling baseless charges against all BJP leaders without any valid evidence.
“Those who commit mistakes and blunders, fear even in their dreams. The behaviour, attitude and statements made by Siddaramaiah have proved beyond doubt that he is a culprit. Siddaramaiah is involved in the Arkavathy land denotification scam,” the former chief minister said.
On Siddaramaiah’s claim that he has not committed any mistake, Gowda said, “Let the CM order a high-level probe into the allegation instead of making public statements.”
‘Will Meet Guv’
Ballari MP B Sriramulu accused Siddaramaiah and some of his cabinet colleagues of being involved in the Arkavathy scam. Sriramulu said he has held talks with legal experts and will soon meet the Governor.
Saying that all is not well in the Congress, he said Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa had expressed his displeasure over the working style of several ministers.
He said Siddaramaiah has no control over his cabinet colleagues.
Ravi Attacks Siddu
MLA C T Ravi made a direct attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress high command on the Arkavathy land denotification scam.
“We have got details about the kickback amount in the Arkavathy land denotification scam which went to the coffers of the Congress high command,” he told reporters in Chikkamagaluru.
He said several Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah, were involved in the scam, but they had been issuing irrelevant statements in order to deflect from the issue.
“Siddaramaiah says the scandal occurred during the BJP regime in the state. If he has any proof about BJP’s involvement in the scam, why has he remained silent all these days and not order ed a probe?,” he further asked.
Reacting to the allegation of Congress leaders that the BJP is misusing the Raj Bhavan, Ravi said it was the culture of Congress to use governors to serve their political agendas.
“Everyone knows who misused the Raj Bhavan when Hansraj Bhardwaj was the governor,” he said.