Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jan 16: Chief minister Siddaramaiah was scheduled to participate in two programmes at Mudipu and Moodbidri on Friday January 16, but on reaching the Mangalore International Airport on Friday, he informed reporters that he had to cancel his participation in both the events in the wake of the demise of former Karnataka governor Rameshwar Thakur on Thursday January 15.

The CM was supposed to participate in the celebrations of sainthood to Blessed Joseph Vaz at Mudipu and the inauguration of the all-India sports meet at Moodbidri the same evening. However, due to a day's state mourning declared in honour of Rameshwar Thakur, the CM cancelled the programmes.

Addressing reporters at the airport, Siddaramaiah said that he would be going to circuit house in the city and then returning to Bengaluru. He also extended greetings on Makara Sankranti.

Speaking on the alleged Arkavathi land denotification issue, he said, "The complaints filed in the case relate to the time of BJP tenure in the state. Whatever denotification done was under the BJP government. Neither my government nor I have done any denotification. Even in the state Assembly, I have submitted details on the issue along with time and date, there has not been a single denotification during my tenure. The BJP is trying to gain political mileage from the issue.

"A judicial inquiry commission has already been formed under Justice Kempanna. If anyone has complaints, let them go and submit before the commission. Let alone anything illegal, I have not even done any denotification," he reiterated.

Asked about the purpose of his visit to New Delhi recently, he said, "I went to Delhi to wish happy new year to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi." He repeated the same answer when reporters tried to probe him further.

On the launch of Bharatiya Hindu Parishat by the Puttur block Congress chief, Siddaramaiah brushed aside the matter and said, "The Congress has no connection to this organization. Congress is committed to secularism, we will not support any caste-based organization. Let the district Congress give a report on it."

On a question regarding debate on a Dalit becoming the chief minister, an issue raised by some of his cabinet colleagues recently, Siddaramaiah said, "This is not an issue for discussion. I am the chief minister now and I will remain so for the rest of the term."

To a question on the Kasturirangan report, the CM said, "A cabinet sub-committee has been formed already, which will visit all the districts coming under the Western Ghats and collect people's and elected representatives' opinions. A report will then be sent to the union government. It is up to the union government to reject or accept the report."

Asked about JD(S) party's allegation that the Congress government was delaying the grant of land for its office in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said, "Let them apply for land with the BBMP or the BDA. I do not know if they have applied already or not." However, the JD(S) has been claiming that despite applying for land five months ago, no action has been taken.

Health minister U T Khadar, youth services and sports minister Abhaychandra Jain, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLA Mohiuddin Bava, mayor Mahabala Maarla, deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim and others were present.