Mahadev Prasad was not against free distribution of saplings

Mysore, May 16 (UNI) Karnataka Minister for Kannada and Culture H S Mahadeva Prasad today clarified that he was not against free distribution of saplings to Karnataka Vanasmarudhana Trust of Sri Adhichnchanagari Matt.

When newsmen drew his attention to the allegations by Minister for Forest Chinnigappa earlier in the day in Bangalore, he said that he had neither expressed his views nor aired in the press about the matter which was discussed in the cabinet meeting.

Mr Prasad said he was not against any programmes of the Forest Department and even endorsed the his views with continuation of the such programmes.

He also clarified that the former minister H Naggappa's case has been handed over to the CBI by the state government. The state government had constituted Justice Vidyanathan Commission which had suggested that this case could be handed over to the CBI for further investigations whether Mr Nagappa's was killed by forest brigand Veerappan's or in an encounter by the Tamil Nadu STF. Even Nagappa's wife Parimala Nagappa and his family members also wanted CBI inquiry into the case to know the facts, he added.

He said without knowing the facts the leader of the opposition Dharam Singh had criticised the government decided to recommended CBI inquiry into the incidents.

UNI