Swamy mischievously twisted facts about land allotment: Karuna

Chennai, Feb 8 (PTI) Asserting that no wrong had beencommitted in land and house allotments under discretionaryquota, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today accused Janata PartyPresident Subramanian Swamy of "mischievously twisting facts"on the issue over which he is being sought to be prosecuted.

Hitting back at Swamy, who had yesterday sought Governor SS Barnala''s sanction for his prosecution, Karunanidhi told thestate Assembly, "...Swamy has mischievously twisted the facts.

This is regrettable and actionable."

He said no wrongdoing had been committed in discretionaryquota system, first introduced by AIADMK in 1979, and now doneaway with by his government.

Stating that no plot or house was given at concessionalrates to beneficiaries of the quota system, he said the TamilNadu Housing Board decided the price of the property on thebasis of its market rate or the government Guideline Rate,whichever was higher.

"Some beneficiaries of the quota have returned theproperty saying they cannot afford to buy it," he said in asuo motu statement.

The TNHB had not suffered any loss due to discretionaryallotment, he said and recalled Revenue Minister I Periasamy''srecent statement that government would take action in case ofany irregularity.

"85 per cent of allotments were being made through draw oflots of applications for TNHB lands and houses. The rest hadbeen given under discretionary quota. The plots or housesunder both categories had been given at the same price,"Karunanidhi said.

He said the AIADMK Government had first issued aGovernment Order in 1979 for such an allotment system andenhanced the quota to 15 per cent during its 1991-96 regime.

Many persons including former Chief Secretary Narayanan,IPS Officers K Vijayakumar and R Nataraj and relatives ofAIADMK leaders have all benefited during previous AIADMKrules, he said.

Those who are eligible to benefit under the governmentquota included single women, senior citizens, journalists,serving and former defence personnel and freedom fightersamong others, he said.

"These are the facts and Swamy has mischievously twistedthem. This is regrettable and actionable," he said hintingthat Swamy could face action for it.

Karunanidhi had on Sunday issued a legal notice to Swamyfor dragging his name into the 2G spectrum allocation scamafter the former Union Minister had sought to include him as aco-accused along with former telecom minister A Raja in aprivate complaint filed by him in a Delhi court.

Swamy had yesterday sought sanction for prosecution ofKarunanidhi for allotting land "for a favoured few" under thediscretionary quota in alleged violation of relevant rules.