Mangaluru: Ramanath Rai hits back on Land grabbing allegations

Bhatkallys News Bureau/ I. Zaorez Shabab Mangaluru 14 Nov 2017: Dakshin-Kannada district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai on Monday in a press conference slammed Harikrishna Bantwal for his allegations of  government land grabbing. Rai said "When he was defeated five time by the party he has joined now (BJP), I was the one who helped him stage a comeback and also helped him secure his seat, these allegations by him has led me down and I don't know why has he done that." Clearing the air about the lands he possess, he said "My father bought around 100 acres of land at Kallige in the year 1961, a part of which was handed to the temporary tenants based on the then government's ruling. The remaining land was distributed among us siblings. Additionally, I further bought more parts of the same lands from my siblings and I now rightfully own 15.22 acre land there. There is no foul play, neither I illegally acquired government land anywhere in my political career and I have a clean record." Speaking about the land registered against her wife's name, he added "It is her ancestral land and she own over 3 acres of land in Kumki, but due to some family disputes between her and her brother it is under AC's court which is yet to deliver the final verdict."