Yeddyurappa, Kumarawamy continue trading allegations

BANGALORE - Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy Saturday claimed that an emissary of Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa tried to broker a deal between them to end the land grab allegations against the latter.

“A close associate of Yeddyurappa telephoned me two days ago saying the chief minister wants to work out a compromise with me, Kumaraswamy, a former chief minister, told reporters here.

Declining to reveal the name of the person, Kumaraswamy said: I have evidence to prove it and will make it public soon.

Kumaraswamys claim came following release of advertisements in some dailies in Karnataka over alleged land scams during his and his father H. D. Deve Gowdas chief ministership in the state.

Yeddyurappa Friday threatened to start an ad campaign spending his own and the partys money to expose land grabbing by the father-son duo.

Gowda was Karnataka chief minister when he was suddenly catapulted to the prime minister’s post in 1996 following the split verdict in the national elections.

Yeddyurappa, facing charges of favouring his kin with prime land, has ordered a judicial prove into all land deals since 1995 which covers the period of six chief ministers starting with Gowda.

Yeddyurappa, who has vowed to root out the JD-S from the state, said Friday in the Gowda clan stronghold of Hassan, about 180 km from here, that he would release the advertisements till the Gowda family begs him to stop.

Kumaraswamy hit back Saturday, saying there was “no question of begging (to Yeddyurappa)”.

“Let him do it. I will dig out more charges against him, he threatened.