Bengaluru, October 5 (IANS). These days, the genie of Arkavati denotification case has once again come out in Karnataka. There is an uproar over this in the state. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya had a detailed conversation with IANS on this issue.
Siroya said, “This case of Arkavati is not new. This is an old case, which dates back to 2013. When the previous government was formed, Arkavati Layout was notified. The issue was raised vigorously in the Assembly and Legislative Council, due to which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah constituted a judicial inquiry committee. This committee submitted its detailed report, which stated that 328 acres of land was wrongly denotified. It included details of all types of lands. However, no action was taken after this report and it was suppressed. This situation is very surprising. Now it has become necessary that this matter be re-investigated and a new investigation committee be constituted. The Governor has also asked for this report, but the government has refused to give it, which is wrong from the constitutional point of view.”
He further said, “I believe that no one should be spared for whatever wrong has been done, whether it is people in our government or others. Corruption has increased in the last years and government property is being misused. It is high time that action is taken on this. For a fair investigation there should be an investigation by a central investigating agency or a Supreme Court judge. I have seen some excerpts from the documents that have come out under the RTI Act, and there is mention of a big scam in them. The investigation committee has also clearly said that action should be taken against many officers. I believe that now all political parties should raise their voice unitedly on this issue. The media should also understand its responsibility and expose corruption. We have to move towards freedom from corruption.”
Let us tell you that the controversy regarding Arkavati denotification case has come to the fore again. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has reportedly written a letter to the government requesting the Justice Kempanna Commission’s investigation report and documents. This commission itself had investigated the denotification scam during the first term of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
–IANS
PSM/AKJ
