Bangalore: Responding to Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj`s letters, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday defended himself against land scam allegations, saying he had not indulged in any irregularities in denotification of land.
In a tersely worded communication, Yeddyurappa said denotification of land had also taken place during the regime of JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy and even then there were reports of irregularities, Chief Minister`s Office sources said.
On December 15, the Governor had shot off two letters to Yeddyurappa asking him to send a detailed report on the land scams allegedly involving his family members and also what action had been taken to stop illegal mining, with specific reference to the Reddy brothers, ministers and mining magnates Janardhana and Karunakara.
Yeddyurappa, in his response, has stated in a veiled manner that the Governor`s missive had been based on Kumaraswamy`s complaint and that his actions were prompted by the latter, the sources said.
The sources said Yeddyurappa also clarified that the land alloted to his son and daughter had been returned.
On the issue of allotment of `G` category site using discretionary powers, Yeddyurappa said he would follow the recent High Court order and stop such allotment, sources said.
In response to another letter by Bhardwaj seeking clarification on the business interests of the three Bellary ministers, the Reddy brothers and their close associate, Sreeramulu, he defended them saying their transactions are in accordance with the law, sources said.
Yeddyurappa also informed the Governor that the three ministers did not own any mining licence in Karnataka, sources said.
The Governor had hit out at Yeddyurappa for failing to take any action over the land scam and mining controversies and had directed him to respond to his letters quickly.
PTI
