JOIN USYeddyurappa, who was in Hubli to launch work on a residential layout at Amaragol, said he would release documents on Tuesday in Bangalore, to prove JD(S) national president Deve Gowda and his sons transported more than one lakh metric tonne of iron ore illegally through Mangalore port when Dharam Singh was chief minister.
He said: “Criticising the State government has become a habit for the Opposition parties. Why are the Congress leaders, who are accusing me of indulging in illegal mining activities, not asking about the rampant illegal iron ore mining that took place during their (Congress) regime?”
He accused Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy of involving in illegal activities when they were in power.
“Several files pertaining to the Government are still in Gowda’s house. Some shameless officials are working hand in glove with the Gowda’s family,” he said.
‘Prove the charges’
Reacting to Yeddyurappa’s remarks, H D Kumaraswamy, in Bangalore said he was ready to go to jail, if proved that any of his family members had illegally exported iron ore during his tenure as the chief minister.
He told reporters that not a kg of iron ore was illegally exported by BSK Trading Company owned by his brother, H D Balakrishne Gowda. The company, set up in 2002, was not involved in any illegal transaction, he added.
“Yeddyurappa has been trying to defame my family to cover up his misdeeds. If he has guts, he should allow free and fair investigation into the allegations of corruption against himself,” Kumaraswamy said.
The JD(S) leader said he would soon release in Delhi documents pertaining to several dubious land deals involving Yeddyurappa’s family members. On Siddaramaiah’s reported allegations against him about irregularities, he said the Opposition leader should always speak with utmost responsibility and prove his allegations.