It has been learnt from highly placed sources in the Government that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has sent an order to Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) for eviction of Gregory Patrao from his land. The copy of the same has been sent to Deputy Commissioner’s office as well.
Gregory Patrao has been fighting a battle against ‘illegal’ land acquisition of his agriculture land for industrial purpose. He had staged a hunger strike backed by various civil society groups in Mangalore for 24 days in Mangalore, which was cleverly put to an end by Organic Farming Mission Chairman A S Anand meeting Gregory and convincing him to withdraw the strike on an assurance that justice will be delivered to him. Chief Minister had himself spoken to Gregory and with this ‘negila yogi’ had returned to the makeshift house, which he had put up on his land at Kalavaru, where his 300 year old house was pulled down by KIADB officials rendering them homeless.
As a follow up to CM’s promise, Mysore Regional Commissioner M V Jayanthi visited Mangalore on June 17 and held inquiry into the issue. Sources informed that Jayanthi submitted a report to the government on August 16 and based on this 48 page report the CM made this move.
Gregory not aware
When contacted, Gregory Patrao told Deccan Herald that he was not aware of the issue at all. “Many people informed me that a particular news daily has carried an article saying that CM has ordered that I should vacate the land. We contacted A S Anand who in turn spoke to the CM and got back to us. Anand said that CM is not in cognisance of the same. However, CM has promised to settle the issue after Gulbarga and Kadur elections,” says Gregory pinning hopes on CM’s prior promise that no injustice will be done to him.
