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HDK visits Sarakki, soothes residents who lost homes

Wants to know why homes of the rich were spared
Last Updated 12 May 2015, 19:43 IST

Standing on the rubble of their shattered dream homes, teary-eyed women anxiously waited for former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy to arrive at Sarakki, JP Nagar on Tuesday.

As Kumaraswamy, accompanied by Chamarajpet MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan and former JD(S) corporators, walked past bulldozed buildings, people surrounded him, complaining how their buildings were demolished mercilessly.

Vimalamma told Kumaraswamy, “We spent Rs 40 lakh on the house and were about to conduct the house-warming ceremony when we received the notice to vacate the building. Even before we could act, officers came and destroyed my house. Where shall we go now?”

Wherever Kumaraswamy went, people ‘gheraoed’ him with property documents. The residents whose houses were affected poured out their woes. A few women pleaded with the leader to ensure that no more houses are demolished.

Julie Dominic, a resident, said, “We never knew that the houses have encroached the lake bed. Had the Revenue department informed us earlier, we would never have purchased the sites”.

Later speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said that the district authorities were demolishing buildings of the poor and lower middle class families only.

“Big buildings have been spared. There is Dollars Colony on Linganahalli lake bed, which has not been touched because all the high and mighty people reside there. The BDA layouts on tank beds have also been spared,” Kumaraswamy said. The JD(S) leader had earlier visited Banaswadi, where also the authorities had carried out a largescale demolition drive about 10 days ago.

George visit follows HDK’s
Soon after Kumaraswamy’s visit, Home Minister K J George - who is the MLA from Sarvagnanagar - visited Banaswadi for the first time after the demolitions took place. However, the visit left residents disappointed.


The inspection lasted hardly for 10 minutes and residents rued that only a few got a chance to speak to the minister.

Rangappa, one of the residents, said, “We are living here for 35 years now. But six of my shops at Subbannapalya were razed. My house wall has also collapsed. The minister said that he will examine the records and take necessary steps, but I have no hope”. Nagubhai, another resident, requested George not to carry out any more demolitions.
George said, “There will be rectification of land records to regularise illegal constructions. We will discuss this in the cabinet and take a decision”.

JD(S) rally on May 17
The JD(S) has given a call for a public meeting against the demolitions, at the Freedom Park at 11 am on May 17. Kumaraswamy said the meeting was not a political event, but an apolitical platform where people from various walks of life could come and join.

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(Published 12 May 2015, 19:43 IST)

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