JOIN USThe BJP also brought out a ‘charge-sheet’, a compilation of various charges made by the party against the Gowda family in the last two to three years.
The 55-page document titled “Amassing wealth by corrupt practices: A tell tale story of H D Kumaraswamy and family”, collates several charges including large-scale denotification, property acquisition, illegal acquisition of land and mining leases sanctioned during the tenure of Kumaraswamy as chief minister.
The release of the document comes a day after Kumaraswamy repeated on oath at a temple his claim that Yeddyurappa had tried to his buy his “silence”.
The document released by BJP National Spokesperson Nirmala Sitaraman, charges the Gowda family with owning at least 24 companies started during the periods when they were in power.
Sitaraman admitted that the “chargesheet” was a compilation of allegations made on various previous occasions.
“However, we taught it fit to bring back the allegations into the public domain to make people realise the credentials of the people who are making charges against the government”, Sitaraman said.
No to people’s mandate
She said the Gowda family had refused to accept the mandate of the people and right from day one had systematically and continously attempted to destablise, malign, and stall the functioning of a democratically-elected government.
The allegations made in the chargesheet include the denotification of 2,529 hectares of land during the last 15 days of Kumaraswamy’s tenure, illegal allocation of mining leases, huge transfer of funds to companies run by the family members, among others.
The documents also have a series of colour photos of the properties along with their present market value allegedly owned by the Gowda family in prime locations in Bangalore.
The BJP has alleged that the Gowda family owns 105 acres in Hassan, 105 acres 33 guntas in Bidadi and 188 acres of land acquired between 2005-07 in and around Bangalore. Besides, the family owns sites totalling 92,300 sq ft in Mysore, 1.43 lakh sq ft in Bangalore, commercial complexes with built-up area of 8.19 lakh sq ft and commercial land extending to more than 20 acres.
Replying to queries, Sitamaraman said the party high command stood firmly with the State government and there was no need to pay heed to the charges being levelled by a “frustrated Opposition”.
BJP State President K S Eshwarappa was also present.
Deve Gowda hits back
JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda reacted sharply to the BJP’s releasing a charge-sheet against former chief minister and his son H D Kumaraswamy and himself and dared the ruling party leaders to order a CBI probe into all the allegations.
“If these leaders really have any culture, let them prove it by ordering a CBI probe. We cannot be cowed down by intimidation tactics like this,” he stated.