JOIN USSringeri MLA D N Jeevraj appeared before the Lokayukta police probing into illegality in the distribution of Bagarhukhum cultivation title, on Monday.
Speaking after coming out of the DySP office on Monday, he said “I have answered all the queries raised by the probing officials and I have produced all the documents. I have not committed any mistake. I am sure of getting clean chit. The Lokayukta police are discharging their duties. There is no political pressure on them. I will attend inquiry and will support the probe.”
“I have submitted details collected from Koppa tahsildar to the Lokayukta officials. We have not distributed cultivation title for the Bagarhukhum land since 2004. About 384 applications were okayed in 2007. However, the process was not complete as it had to obtain NoC from the gram panchayat and taluk panchayat. As a result, no cultivation title were distributed during our term,” he clarified.
Applications were received seeking cultivation title for Bagarhukhum land in 1988-89, he added.
To a query on modifying the names of beneficiaries, the MLA said that he had not received any complaint.
The Lokayukta sleuths said “before filing charge sheets in the court, we had to collect opinions of all the opponents. The report will be submitted to higher authorities.”
Rice for poor
The MLA said that the State government should not withdraw its decision to distribute rice at Re 1/kg for the BPL families. At the same time, rice should be distributed to APL card holders as well.
The Congress government has been initiating anti-people policies. The ban on gutka has affected arecanut growers. By Panchayat Raj amendments, it has decided to disqualify gram panchayat members for not holding gram sabhas. The PDOs should be held responsible for delay in implementing development work and not panchayat members.”
“Personally I want former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to come back to the BJP. Yeddyurappa’s return will strengthen the party. The party high command should take a decision on the same,” Jeevraj said. The BJP will return to power at the Centre in the Lok Sabha elections. The entire country will accept the leadership of Gujrat chief minister Narendra Modi.
Minister hints at hike in tax
Urban Development Minister Vinaya Kumar Sorake on Monday, gave a hint on hiking the tax in the MCC limits.
This was contrary to the promises made by Congress leader Janardhan Poojary prior to the MCC and Assembly elections, of not hiking the property and water tax if the Congress comes to power. Making it quite clear that cities will not get Central government sponsored projects, if the corporations sticks on to the old tax norms, he said “no development is possible if we fail to go in accordance with the set criteria. We will hike the water tax without making it a burden for common people” .