From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 13: Presenting a brave face against the combined onslaught from the BJP-JD(S) opposition parties over the allegations of large-scale land grabbing by builders and developers with the collusion of officials, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has declared that his government will not spare anybody involved in land grabbing activities.

"We will launch criminal and civil proceedings against land grabbers and officials who helped developers to construct structures on lake beds and government lands in the City," the Chief Minister said.

Participating in a joint meet the press programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore and Bangalore Reporters’ Guild, the Chief Minister accused the Opposition BJP and JD(S) for opposing the demolition drive to gain public sympathy during coming elections to the Bruhat Bangalore MahanagaraPalike (BBMP).

"No matter how much they are influential and rich, we will take civil and criminal actions against builders and developers, who have encroached government lands," he sid asserting that the State Government will not spare anybody.

Similar action would also be taken against officials, who collided with developers and supported them in constructions on lake beds, the Chief Minister said.

Leaders of BJP and JD(S) demanded demolition of illegal constructions when they were in power.

Committees headed by A T Ramaswamy, former JD-S MLA andV Balasubramanian, former IAS officer, were appointed and recommended recovery ofencroachment of government lands.

Rs 40,000 cr worth encroached land recovered

"Our government acted as per recommendations of committees and judgments of Supreme Court and High Court", he said adding that the poor would be rehabilitated.

A total of 4052 acres of encroached lands worth Rs 40,000 crore recovered during the last two years, he claimed.

The Chief Minister ruled out any relaxation in Value Added Tax (VAT) rates when the entire country was poised to move towards the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from the next financial year.

He explained that there was no necessity for the government to relook into the existing VAT rates.

Allaying fears of Opposition parties that the State suffered revenue slippages from business operations of E-commerce firms, he said all companies have complied and paying taxes as per the existing norms.

Presently, the State has been levying 14.5 per cent VAT on industrial products.

GIM in September-October

The Chief Minister claimed that investment were flowing into the State in view of the several advantages of the State with Karnataka known as the hot investment destination.
"Karnataka is a best destination for investors and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are not competitors of the State," he claimed.

Except Hero Motocorp, no other major industrial house had deserted the State.
Hero Motocorp moved to Andhra Pradesh owing to better incentives officered by that state.

Investments worth Rs 95,959 crore were cleared during the last two years and they expected to generate 2.27 lakh jobs.

A Global Investors’ Meet would be held in September or October this year to attract more investments to the State.

Not Ashamed at Preference to AHINDA

Siddaramaiah said the State Government has given a preferential treatment to AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and dalits) communities to ensure inclusive growth.

The Chief Minister said preferential treatment is given to AHINDA to ensure social justice to the poor people by focusing more on social welfare schemes.

"I am not ashamed of it (giving preference to AHINDA)," he asserted.
Unlike the previous BJP government, the Congress government headed by him remained "scandal free," he said.

"I am satisfied with the performance of my government so far," he declared.

The Chief Minister, who held several AHINDA conventions before joining the Congress in 2006, said under the Constitution, it was the responsibility of the State government to safeguard the interest of the poor people who belonged to scheduled caste/tribe and minority communities.

Allocation has been increased to the social sector without neglecting the economic sector, he said.

He dismissed allegations that the Congress Government had protected interests of only AHINDA communities.

All Sections of People Benefitted

Listing out achievements, he said about 21 lakh farmers availed interest free crop loans from cooperatives last year while 1.08 crore BPL families have been availing subsidised rations. All categories of families benefited, he said.

Allocation forScheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan has been increased to Rs 16,300 crore in 2015-16, he said funds under the Act cannot be utilised for the benefit of other caste and communities.

The BJP argued for BBMP’s split when it was in power and now opposing it to gain political mileage.

The BBMP was in mess owing to bad governance by the BJP during the last five years.
Six treatment plants would be commence functioning in the City in the next two months, he said.