Yedyurappa accuses CM Kumaraswamy of trying to mislead people
Bengaluru, Jun 18: In continuing war of words with Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy over the JSW Steel land issue, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa Tuesday accused the former of trying to mislead people by uttering lies.
A day after Kumaraswamy raked up allegations against Yeddyurappa that he had received Rs 20 crore from the company when he was the chief minister during 2008-11, the BJP leader said he and his family members had been cleared of the charges by a CBI court in the case.
"Either the Chief Minister of Karnataka is lying or ignorant or both. It is a well-known fact that CBI court cleared me and my family members of blatantly false, politically motivated charges that were heaped on us," he tweeted.
The CBI court in its October 26, 2016 verdict had acquitted Yeddyurappa, his sons, son-in-law and nine others in the corruption case filed against them over alleged receipt of Rs 20 crore.
The BJP had been attacking the Congress-JDS coalition government over May 27 Cabinet decision to convert the lease of 3,667 acres of land in Ballari to JSW Steel into sale, in accordance with the initial agreement.
The party held a three-day long sit-in last week and attempted to lay siege to the residence of Kumaraswamy on Sunday over the issue even as the state cabinet decided to refer the decision to a sub-committee for reconsideration.
While criticising Yeddyurappa for not responding to his offer of talks on the issue and going ahead with its protest, Kumaraswamy Monday alleged the BJP leader had taken Rs 20 crore cheque from the same Jindal company while in power.
"Why did Jindal give him Rs 20 crore cheque? Whether it was Yeddyurappa or who did the lease-cum-sale for Jindal? Who signed it? So I invited them, lets not discuss on streets, come lets discuss. Still my government is open (for discussion)," he had added.
Hitting back, Yeddyurappa said Kumaraswamy was trying to mislead the people.
"Failing to have answers to the day light robbery of ourfarmers' lands, a panicked CM is trying to mislead the people with more lies and false accusations," he tweeted.
The cabinet decision to sell the land has run into opposition from senior Congress leader H K Patil also.
Congress Hospet MLA Anand Singh Tuesday opposed the sale of the land, saying it was against the interest of the people of the region.
"The government should stop giving lands to companies through lease cum sale deed. If such decisions were taken in the past, the government should annul it," he told reporters in Ballari.
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Crossing river, trekking hill voters reach polling booths to cast vote in Surguja LS constituency
Balrampur/Chhattisgarh (PTI): Enthusiastic voters reached polling booths trekking steep hilly paths, crossing a river and even on a horse to cast their votes in remote areas of the tribal-dominated Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, officials said.
Balrampur district falls under the Surguja Lok Sabha constituency which was among seven seats where polling was held in third and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state. The Surguja Lok Sabha recorded 74.59 per cent voting, as per the Turnout application.
Voters, belonging to Pahadi Korva, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, including Rajesh, Madan, Sukhu, Gopal and Nandlal, crossed a river to exercise their franchise at a polling booth in village panchayat Amera under the Samri assembly constituency, a government official said.
Similarly, electors, including Lakhan Nagesia, Sahu, Phulsai and Kalesh of Bachwar village under the Ramanujganj assembly constituency walked through hilly terrain for about two hours covering 8 kms to reach a polling booth and cast their vote, he said. A voter, Parimal Dey, reached a polling booth in Sagarpur village under the Ramanujganj assembly seat on a horse, the official said. Dey is a cattle rearer who owns 150 goats.
Two hyper sensitive polling booths -- Chunchuna and Pundag -- located in a Naxal-affected area of the district which shares border with Jharkhand, also recorded significant turnout, he said. The two booths are located in the Samri assembly constituency.
"Special security arrangements were put in place in this area to ensure peaceful voting. Voters of Chunchuna and Pudang ensured their participation in the great festival of democracy braving Naxalite threat," he said. The Chunchuna polling booth has 767 voters and it recorded 84.35 per cent turnout, while Pundag has 595 electors and it registered a turnout of 72.44 per cent till 5 pm, the official added.
