Mysuru: Strongly opposing the State Congress Government’s move to denotify over 1,300 dried up Lakes and other major water bodies across Karnataka, former MP and JD(S) leader A.H. Vishwanath lashed out at Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, saying that the move was aimed at collecting party funds through the real estate mafia, with polls round the corner.

Addressing a press meet at Pathrakarthara Bhavan here this morning, Vishwanath termed the Government’s reasoning that the Lakes would be denotified as they were disfigured over the years, as absolutely absurd.

Pointing out that while the erstwhile Maharajas of Mysuru had taken all necessary measures for conserving water bodies, Siddharamaiah, who is a democratically elected CM is now out to close the Lakes by denotifying them, which is ridiculous.

Continuing his tirade, he also sought to know why Lake encroachments by influential personalities were not evacuated, when the Bengaluru Administration had mercilessly demolished the houses of the poor.

Claiming that the Government was aiming to hand over the Lake lands to real estate mafia after denotifying them, Vishwanath wondered why the Deputy Commissioners in every district were silent on clearing encroachments.

Vishwanath further alleged that the State Government had raked up two issues — the demand for a separate State Flag and another demand for Lingayat as separate religion, in order to cover up its dismal performance and administrative failures.

Referring to the suicide of T. Narasipur Tahsildar Shankaraiah, the JD(S) leader urged the Police to make public the content of the death note which is said to have been found.

Wondering why the SP was reluctant to disclose Shankaraiah’s death note, Vishwanath said the Police must make it public in order to know what made the Tahsildar to take such an extreme step.

City JD(S) President K. Harish Gowda, leaders Somasundar, B. Revanna and Channabasappa were present at the press meet.