The Janata Party chief, Mr Subramanian Swamy, has sought the Tamil Nadu Governor’s sanction for the prosecution of Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, for allegedly allotting land to a “favoured few” under discretionary quota in “violation” of rules.
“He (Karunanidhi) has violated every rule and allotted to a favoured few,” Mr Swamy told reporters today after submitting his petition to the office of Governor, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, a day after the DMK chief issued him a legal notice for linking his name to the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Mr Swamy claimed he had enough evidence on the issue. “I will never say anything without proof. I have done it always and have won my cases,” he said.
He alleged that the Tamil Nadu Housing Board has earmarked 15 per cent of the land to the Chief Minister for discretionary allotment. The allotment by Mr Karunanidhi was in violation of Section 11 and 13 of the Prevention and Corruption Act. “Hence, Karunanidhi must resign and be prosecuted,” Mr Swamy said.
Mr Swamy said he has mentioned the names of those who benefited, but refused to disclose them. “I have given the names of people who don’t deserve to get it. It includes civil servants, judges, police officials and a variety of people”, he said.
Asked about Mr Karunanidhi’s legal notice issued to him, he said he had not received it yet.
“No, I have not received any legal notice. If it comes I will put it only in the wastepaper basket. What is there for notice. He has no guts. Let him go to court. He is only sending legal notices only to terrorise the media,” he said.
Mr Karunanidhi had issued a legal notice to Mr Swamy, demanding retraction of his ‘statement’ linking him to the 2G spectrum allocation scam within 24 hours.
In his notice to Mr Swamy, the DMK patriarch had dismissed the allegation as being “motivated by your personal malice, political rivalry and clamour for cheap publicity’’.
The DMK chief’s notice came two days after Mr Swamy’s plea in a Delhi Court for continuance of his private complaint in the 2G spectrum case, seeking to claim that it covered a wider canvas of “involvement” of Mr Karunanidhi.
Appreciating the Karnataka Governor, Mr H.R. Bhardwaj, for sanctioning the prosecution of Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, Mr Swamy said: “He did not hesitate and did it overnight. I do not know whether Barnala will do it (like him). But the final matter is I expect him (Barnala) to give sanction…”