Have done no wrong, will not quit: Katta

PTI

Bangalore, 03 October 2010: Under attack from the Opposition over an alleged scam, Karnataka Minister Subramanya Naidu today denied any wrongdoing and ruled out his resignation, saying he was backed by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and the ruling BJP.

 

Naidu, the Minister for Information Technology, BioTechnology and Housing, claimed that there was a "conspiracy" by elements who were jealous of his political growth, and that he was being targetted as he belonged to a backward caste whose numbers were less in the state.

 

"No question of resigning. I did not commit any mistake. Chief Minister has no objections of my continuing. I will continue as Minister," he said adding he was backed by Yeddyurappa and the people.

 

He did not elaborate on who was behind the conspiracy but said attempts are being made to tarnish his image.

 

Naidu is facing allegations of irregularities in payment of compensation for lands acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) when he was the Industries Minster during the JDS-BJP coalition Government.

 

His son Katta Jagadish, a city councillor, was arrested last week for allegedly bribing a witness connected to the investigation by Lokayukta into the alleged KIADB compensation scam, and is currently lodged in a jail.

 

Both the Congress and the JDS have sought his dismissal.

 

Naidu termed allegations against him as "baseless" and "far from truth" and accused those levelling charges against him as engaged in "hit and run case" without going in-depth of its background.

 

"It is not correct to put me and my family in the dock when the case is being investigated by the Lokayukta," he said.

 

Naidu criticised the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President R V Deshpande for demanding his resignation saying the latter had no moral right in this regard.

 

"We have details of 200 scams that took place during the earlier Congress and Janata Dal governments. Let Deshpande say first if anyone’s resignation has been sought and obtained", he alleged, and charged Deshpande and his family with possessing land worth Rs 250 crore near Devanahalli on the city outskirts.

 

Naidu distanced himself and his family from Itaska Software Company, which the opposition has accused of being their "benami" firm, saying they have nothing to do with it.

 

Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde said yesterday that investigations had revealed that of the 325 acres acquired by KIADB for Itaska in Bangalore North taluk, a portion of the land belonged to Soubhagya, Subramanya Naidu’s wife.