Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Mar 27: Minister for health and family welfare U T Khadar on Thursday March 27 rubbished allegations of using his clout to divert temple land to a trust run by his brother and claimed that BJP was indulging in a smear campaign against him by spreading rumours.
He was referring to allegations that he had misused his position to get Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to divert a site belonging to Kukke Subramanya Temple to UT Nasima Fareed Memorial Charitable Trust run by his brother.
Addressing a press meet here, Khadar said, "BJP candidate and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has nothing to say about his past or future, so BJP is spreading rumours that I am involved in diverting temple land to my brother's trust."
He explained, "BDA had issued a notification in a newspaper in 2012-2013 for civic amenity site for which my brother had applied. The site was reserved solely under the category of mentally and physically challenged institution, hence my brother got this site as he is running an institute for the differently-abled which was established in the year 2004 in the name of UT Nasima Fareed Memorial Charitable Trust.
"The Temple trust had also applied for the same land to build an information centre, but as this site was reserved for institutes for the differently-abled, the Temple did not qualify. Hence BDA commissioner Sham Bhatt and a three-member comittee comprising IAS officers gave the land to my brother," he said.
"Altogether seven persons had applied for the site, but six of them did not suit the category under which it was reserved," he added.
"I have no connection with the Institution. I have never made a single phone call or recommendation in its favour. The site was not allotted to anyone except my brother. Also, everyone who applied for the site had to deposit Rs 3,99,858 which was later returned," he said, adding that if the Temple trust had applied for the site for a social cause, it would have got it.
"If anyone still wants to file a complaint, I am ready for any inquiry as per law," he said.
Levelling counter-allegations, he said, "I am not as clever as Nalin Kumar Kateel or Jayaram Shetty. Though I have been MLA three times I have not acquired any site in Bangalore. Nalin Kumar was successful in getting a BDA site within three months after he became the MP. I feel ashamed of our MP as without any correct information he and BJP are spreading rumours about me. I strongly condemn such attitude."
Khadar further added, "I have told my family members that if the site really belongs to the temple, it should be given back or I will sever ties them.
Congress leader Ivan D'Souza said it was a serious issue and a political strategy by the BJP to defame Khadar. "BJP is trying to gain political mileage and playing with religious sentiments to garner votes. We will complain to the Election Commission."
Sadashiv Ullal, Eshwar Ulla, Praveen Chandra Alva and Mithun Rai were present.