State-wide stir over illegal encroachment of revenue/forest lands - BJP threatens

Mangalore Today News Network

Manipal, Oct 1, 2014  :  Speaking at a aprotest organised in font of the Udipi DC office, Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar threatened that the BJP will launch State wide protest if the government fails to withdraw or amend the affidavit submitted to High Court, through Advocate General and Revenue Secretary in connection with the acquisition of illegal encroachments of revenue and forest land.

 

 

 

The former CM said the government has mentioned in the affidavit that nearly 4.5 lakh acre revenue land and 2.5 lakh acres of forest land used as ‘Bagar Hukum’ (witout orders)  land would be acquired in the State. He alleged that the ministers and the district in charge ministers pretend as if they are innocent and claim to be ignorant over the land acquisition issue.

He alleged that nothing is possible without the consent of the CM and the ministers. The former CM added that the poor and underprivileged who are in the government revenue land and forest land since many years have the right over the land. They cultivate the land since long. He stressed that the government holds no right to evacuate the land from the poor who are into farming in the land for long. Instead, the government should come forward to regularize the land documents and offer title deeds to the land encroaches.    He alleged that notices are issued to poor to vacate the houses within seven days. He said the list includes the houses that comprises of title deeds.  He was critical on the necessity and motive for harassing  the poor.

He said not a single notice is issued in Bangalore, wherein crores of acres of land and ponds are encroached illegally to construct commercial complexes and apartments. The people in Chikmagalur, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kolar, Shimoga, Hubli Dharwad are targeted. Why is the government turning a nelson’s eye on the illegal encroachments in Bangalore, he questioned. He accused the government as anti-poor and lacks concern for the underprivileged. He demanded that the government should immediately revise the affidavit submitted in High Court or withdraw it.

He added that the issue pertaining to the statements issued by BJP leader Umesh Katti over bifurcation of State does not reflect party’s stance. Party always respects the unification of State and stands for it. Katti’s opinion is personal. However, he cannot be punished as it is his personal view. He added that there is lack of development in Hyderabad Karnataka region. The demand for development in the region is the new struggle, that needs to be taken up and not bifurcation. He added BJP has high regard for the martyrs and veteran leaders who sacrificed their lives for the unification of Karnataka.

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje alleged that state government lacks concern for the females in State. The increasing number of sexual assault cases has resulted in insecure atmosphere in State for females. The recent incident of 40 girls who were subjected to sexual assault in Kittur Rani Chennamma residential school in Bijapur is scary. She alleged that government is blind. It had assured that a committee would be set up under the leadership of veteran leaders to look into the increasing sexual assault cases reported in State. However, no committee has been set up until today, she added.