Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Mar 29: Working president of K S Gowda Trust, Nintikal, K S Ashok Kumar, clarified that some persons, who are politically motivated, had made malicious allegations against the trust, which claimed that Udupi-Chikmagalur MP, D V Sadanand Gowda, had wrongly got forest land sanctioned to the trust for running an educational institution. “We have done nothing unlawful in getting the land sanctioned,” he asserted. Kumar was addressing a press conference here on Monday March 28.

The press conference was convened to clarify the trust’s stand on allegations that MP, D V Sadanand Gowda, had got forest land illegally transferred to the trust by wielding his influence, and a complaint made to the Lokayukta relating to the issue.

“We have done exactly what every other educational trust does to get land allotment from the government. The land in question has not been allotted to us so far. At this stage, a few who are against the development of the village, have been spreading false rumours about the trust,” he claimed.

He said that D V Sadanand Gowda was made the honorary president of the trust because of his standing in the society, and also because the MP is a close relative of the former. He asserted that Sadanand Gowda has neither been involved nor has interfered with, the day-to-day functioning of the trust.

Ashok Kumar claimed that someone had given false information about the trust to former Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy. “If the MP’s political influence was used for the benefit of the trust, we need not have waited for so many years to get the land,” he reasoned. He also pointed out that those who had given no objection letter in the past had now filed complaint. He added that the trust is ready for any kind of investigation.

Founder president of the trust, K Sheenappa Gowda, was present.