K'taka: Patil demands CM's resignation

Hubli, June 22: Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council H K Patil today asked Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to resign immediately to honour his words that he would resign if there was proof that his Government had acquired land from the farmers.

Talking to newspersons here, he read out a letter written by the KIADB on May 5 last to M/s Gandhi City Developers, asking it to pay Rs 16.56 crore as balance payment and confirming receipt of Rs 5 crore as advance for acquisition of lands. ''Is this proof not enough? I can give several other proofs also. It is a blunt lie.'' Giving details of acquisition of lands to the tune of 27,932 acres for industrial purpose and single unit complex in the State during 2006-07, Mr Patil said acquisition had never crossed the 2,000 acre mark from 2001 to 2006.

Referring to the UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi's reported statement during Goa electioneering recently that her party would not allow the Mahadayi project, he said a delegation of party leaders from Karnataka had met Ms Gandhi and convinced her on the project. She immediately assured the delegation that she would ask the Prime Minister and Union Water Resources Minister to look into the matter.

A Congress delegation from the State had been invited by the Union Water Resources Minister for a meeting tomorrow in Delhi. ''We will put forth all facts of the project and urge him to clear abeyance of the project,'' he added.

Mr Patil said the delegation would also raise the Cauvery issue in the meeting.

UNI