Bangalore, Dec 23 (IANS): External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Thursday blasted Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa for levelling "wild and baseless" allegations against him over land allotment during his chief ministership in 1999-2004.

In a strongly-worded letter, Krishna accused Yeddyurappa of indulging in character assassination while "suppressing the truth and suggesting falsehood".

Yeddyurappa, under attack for favouring his close kin with prime land in and around Bangalore, has been claiming his predecessors from the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) also had done similar things.

He has also ordered a judicial probe into land denotification (revoking government control) and residential site allotment since 1995.

Krishna's letter was released to the media by Congress leaders B.K. Chandrashekar, a former minister, and Rani Satish, former women's wing president, at a press meet here.

"These wild and baseless allegations are nothing but assassination of my character. Not only this, you have been speaking in public, repeating these allegations," Krishna, credited with turning Bangalore into nation's tech hub, said.

He noted that for the past few days newspapers and TV channels were extensively reporting Yeddyurappa's allegations against him about de-notification of land during his chief ministership.

"All these allegations were raised in the subsequent legislative sessions during and after my tenure as chief minister and were replied effectively. In spite of this, you have sought to sensationalise all this," Krishna said.

"I am sure you will agree with me when I say that you have done what best you can do, i.e, suppressing the truth and suggesting falsehood. Your sole purpose in doing this is obviously to tarnish my image," the external affairs minister told Yeddyurappa.

Krishna gave details of the land 'denotified' across the state and also acquired for developing residential sites in Bangalore.

He asserted that right from the beginning of the acquisition process, land owners were involved and the compensation was paid by cheques.

"When the entire acquisition process has been so successful and is transparent and open, only vague, baseless and generalised allegations can be made," Krishna said.