No forest land de-reserved by me, says Krishna

Denying corruption charges levelled against him by Team Anna, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Thursday said except the mineral bearing areas, no forest reserve land was de-reserved during his tenure as the chief minister of Karnataka between 1999 and 2004.

Describing the allegations as “motivated,” Krishna said he was ready to face any kind of inquiry or investigation and would reply in detail to the prime minister in this regard.

“However, since Justice Santosh Hegde, as the Lokayukta of Karnataka had conducted a detailed investigation and exonerated me of any wrong doing, it is highly improper for anyone to ask for another investigation again which is aimed only at bringing me bad reputation and to malign my 40 years of unblemished public life,” Krishna said.

Team Anna had charged him with de-reserving forest land and not allowing Mysore Minerals Limited from marketing high grade iron ores in order to benefit some private players.

Krishna claimed that the Karnataka High Court had already quashed the charges against him in the Mysore Minerals Limited case.

Responding to allegations that the state Cabinet led by him, in 2002, decided to de-reserve forest lands, Krishna said the issue was still pending before the Supreme Court.

Team Anna, on Saturday,  threatened to launch an indefinite fast from July 25 if the prime minister and 14 other ministers including Krishna did not submit themselves to a probe in view of corruption charges against them.