Farm land: BS Yeddyurappa takes on assembly speaker Kagodu Thimmappa

Belgaum: “I will not allow bagair hukum cultivators to be evacuated till my last breath”, thundered former chief minister and Shimoga MP B.S.Yeddyurappa here on Thursday. Addressing a press conference, he said, “Having fought for the welfare of farmers I have never taken steps that would do injustice to the farming community.

Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa is involved in opportunistic politics in the name of farmers.” Clarifying on the allegations made by Mr Thimmappa recently that the amendment to clause 192 (a) of the Land Revenue Act was made during JD(S)-BJP rule to create problems for bagair hukum cultivators.

Mr.Yeddyurappa said the amendment was made not to trouble bagair hukum farmers. He wondered what steps Mr Thimmappa had taken in 2002 when he was the district in-charge minister in the S M Krishna government?” “It is true the amendment was brought for the welfare of farmers in 2006. The decision to amend the Act was taken after discussing the pros and cons.

The main reason for the amendment was to curb rampant land encroachments in Bengaluru and not to disturb farmers. No additions had been made to the Act, it has been made strict”, Yeddyurappa said.