Will hang myself in public if proven I own land in NICE project area: Kumaraswamy | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday challenged chief minister DK Shivakumar to prove that he owned land in the NICE project area, declaring that he would “hang himself in public” if such a claim was established.Responding to Shivakumar’s allegations that he also owned land in the project area, Kumaraswamy said he purchased 44 acres in Bidadi even before he entered politics and was engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.He accused Shivakumar of conspiring with a Hyderabad-based businessman to take over the NICE project and alleged that influential people were joining hands to grab land acquired for it.He said 1.7 lakh acres of land were identified between Bengaluru and Mysuru and alleged there was an attempt to grab it. “Names such as NICE, NISEL are disappearing, and a company named Divinity has emerged,” he said. “They are rolling out the red carpet for a person from Telangana. For how many crores is this deal being struck? I have all the details and I will reveal them soon.”Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar had purchased some 300 acres in the BM Kaval area and questioned how the land was acquired. To Shivakumar’s defence — that he is rich and a businessman and that buying land was not illegal — Kumaraswamy said: “You can acquire 10,000 acres, but do it lawfully. Who has stopped you from earning money through legitimate means? An expressway between Bengaluru and Mysuru has already been built. Why is another road needed?”

Kumaraswamy also alleged attempts were made to persuade him to stay away from the NICE issue, including offers of money and assistance with expenses for the 2028 assembly elections.“People were sent to tell me, ‘Why do you want to get involved in the NICE issue? Stay quiet. Take whatever you want.’ I drove away those who came to meet me. Nobody can buy me. I belong to the people. I am ready to give my life for them,” he said.The Union minister spent much of Friday travelling across four locations to meet farmers from more than 30 villages who lost their land to the NICE project. He listened to their grievances while trying to mobilise support for action on the long-pending issue.He urged those who lost land to join JD(S) workers and party functionaries and participate in the programme. “Let us fight together. We should not rest until we achieve our goal,” Kumaraswamy said.