Kumaraswamy 'Mined' Rs 167 Crore Income, Alleges BJP Leader
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 14: In the continuing war of words between ruling BJP and opposition JD(S) and the trading of charges and counter-charges between chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and his predecessor H D Kumaraswamy, yet another serious charge of being involved in mining activity and earning income of Rs 167 crore by exporting minerals to China and Singapore was leveled by Yeddyurappa’s Political Secretary B J Puttaswamy against the State JD(S) president.
The BJP leader Puttaswamy, who is considered quite close to Yeddyurappa and has been frequently leveling charges against JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy and other family members, on Tuesday alleged that Kumaraswamy and his family members as well as relatives were involved in running the BSK Trading Company, which was allegedly involved in illegal mining.
Stepping up his tirade against the Deve Gowda family and the exposures of the acts of omission and nepotism by Kumaraswamy, the BJP leader alleged that BSK Trading Corporation exported 1,50,566 tonnes of iron ore from New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) and received ''kickbacks” of Rs 167 crore.
Releasing some documents, which he claimed disproved the claims by Kumaraswamy that none of his family members were into mining in the state, Puttaswamy contended that the former JD(S) chief minister had ''threatened’’ certain mining firms and got iron ore, which the BSK Trading Corporation, owned by one of his brothers H D Balakrishna Gowda, exported.
BSK Trading Corporation exported about 1.50 lakh tons of iron ore, Puttaswamy said and wanted to know the source of supply of iron ore and whether Kumaraswamy family had any mining lease in the state.
Asserting that he was prepared for a public debate on corruption charges hurled at him, Kumaraswamy had yesterday challenged Yeddyurappa to produce documents to support his allegations.
Puttaswamy alleged Kumaraswamy had committed acts of nepotism and favouritism, besides misuse of power when he ruled the state to help his family members to gain wealth.
He said Kumaraswamy should clarify whether this was not an act of corruption, in view of the huge cash of Rs 167 crore received by the name of the company in Karnataka Bank within three months of the date he assumed office as the Chief Minister.
''Kumaraswamy should retire from the politics if he was unable to come out with the concrete reply on his family members’ involvement in mining activity,’’ Puttaswamy said.
Releasing documents related to BSK Trading Company and invoice of export of iron ore from the NMPT, the BJP leader said the company was established in 2001 but had transacted business only during the Kumaraswamy regime (2006-07).
''H Kavitha, wife of H D Balakrishna Gowda, who is the brother of Kumaraswamy, Honnappa and Jayamma, , father in-law and mother in-law respectively of Balakrishna Gowda and other relatives of Kumaraswamy benefited from the business,’’ he alleged.
The former Chief Minister has no moral right to level charges against Yeddyurappa and his family members. ''Kumaraswmy has lost mental balance and involved in lose talk,” he alleged.
All documents would be submitted to Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, who has been probing alleged involvement of Kumaraswamy and his family members in illegal mining.
The Lokayutka would be urged to complete the probe before the completing the term, he said.
Vinod Kumar, an advocate, has already filed a complaint against Deve Gowda and his family members for their alleged involvement in the land and illegal mining scams.
Puttaswamy said that he would release more documents soon with regard to alleged involvement of Kumaraswamy in acts of ''corruption, nepotism and mining activity” during his 20-month regime.