'Yesterday's Mangalore visit was personal': Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, Mar 28 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today clarified that his visit to Mangalore yesterday was private visit to attend a religious function.

Speaking to newspersons at his chambers in Vidhana Soudha, the State Secretariat here, he said there was no need to attach any special significance to his Mangalore visit. He had not taken along the official machinery mainly due to the criticism on earlier occasion from some people and the media.

"Any criticism which has malafide intentions should not be given any importance," he stated.

On the statement made by some Forest Department officials, who had said that the seer of Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt, Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji, had encroached land in Turahalli, Mr Kumaraswamy said he would collect the details on the statement and initiate disciplinary action against the officials if the allegation was found incorrect. However, he ruled out vindictive action against any individual with regard to land encroachment.

"If the officials do not work as per the framework of the law, there was no question of shielding them," he clarified.

Reacting to a statement by the BJP Karnataka unit President Sadananda Gowda that the state budget presented recently was prepared by BJP, Mr Kumaraswamy said there was unanimity in the budget preparing process with collective involvement of all ministers.

It was a budget prepared by the coalition government for the people, he remarked, suggesting that even opposition party leaders should forget selfishness while serving people.

UNI