Pics: Daya Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru Nov 13: District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai launched veiled attack on Harikrishna Bantwal for his allegations over grabbing government land.

Harikrishna Bantwal who joined BJP recently after leaving Congress party, had accused Rai of grabbing government land.

Addressing media here on Monday November 13, Ramanath Rai said," I have 15.22 acres of land at Kallige. My father had bought close to 100 acres of land in the year 1961 and during the land reforms act some land was handed over to tenants. Remaining land was distributed among five children including me. I bought some land from my brothers and sisters and accordingly a total land of 15.22 acres belonged to me now. So there is no point in the allegations that I grabbed the government land illegally,”

"Out of the 15.22 acres of land, 8 acres of land consists of rubber plantation and there is no grabbing of illegal land at all. There was 7.09 acres of land at Mani which belonged to my wife's family and the attached 3.04 acres of Kumki land was sanctioned. But my wife's brother questioned about the kumki land of 3.04 acre and took it to the AC court and the final decision is still pending,” he added.

"I do not expect any land and I do not have any site in Bengaluru. I always worked for the society and people and without expecting anything in return. Till now I have not done anything wrong to bring disrespect to the society. I have no idea why he (Harikrishna Bantwal) is accusing me. I cannot say whether the intention is political, personal or just jealousy to accuse of land grabbing,” Rai said.

"He has joined a party which defeated him 6 times, I was the one who helped him and strived hard to get him seat," he concluded without naming Harikrishna Bantwal.