Daijiworld Media Network - Ramanagara (SP)

Ramanagara, Mar 14: Former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, reacting to the criticism hurled at him by Shivakumar, quipped that he does not see any reason to learn lessons on raising voices for the poor farmers from the people who have kidnapped the children of farmers to force them to transfer their lands. He made this serious allegation against Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh.

"KPCC president D K Shivakumar, and his younger brother and MP, D K Suresh, think that forcibly taking over properties of the others, kidnapping the children to coerce farmers to sign documents to transfer their properties etc, are the basic duties of the people's representatives. This is their style of operations which I have never acquired. I have nothing to learn from people like them on protecting the interests of the farmers. I am fully aware of their backgrounds," he stated.

Speaking to media persons on Sunday, he wondered how these people could have missed the fact that he had discussed the issue of irrigation in the state assembly for three hours.

Speaking about Mekedatu irrigation project, he said that Tamil Nadu has no locus standi in the matter and what is required is just permission letter from the environment ministry. He noted that the government is short of funds to build a dam there because of which the project is getting delayed. He said that the people have to elect leaders who have the ability to take strong and firm decisions in such cases.

Kumaraswamy wanted to know from MP D K Suresh, as to who levied a hefty penalty of Rs 980 crore on Eagleton Resort just because they demanded payment of bill amounting to Rs 98,000 towards the food consumed by the latter. He said that being a representative of the people it is his duty to raise questions on injustice heaped to people. He said that those who run the government should think twice before signing such documents. Reminding that the Eagleton issue had happened when the Congress was in power, he pledged to release more documents at the assembly on Monday.