Kumaraswamy alleges Karnataka government is sabotaging HMT revival package

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of deliberately obstructing the Centre's efforts to revive the ailing public sector enterprise Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT). Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr. Kumaraswamy alleged that the state Forest Department issued a notice to HMT demanding the return of 430 acres of land, just as a special revival package was about to be announced.

The minister said the matter is sub judice, making the Forest Department's action an interference with judicial proceedings. He stated that HMT will challenge the notice in court. The notice, issued by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Conservator of Forests N. Ravindra Kumar, gives HMT a deadline to surrender the land, which the department claims is forest land. Mr. Kumaraswamy questioned the timing and legality of the order, noting that the officer is set to retire in 15 days.

Mr. Kumaraswamy alleged that the state government had previously allowed the plunder of HMT land, with multi-storeyed buildings now standing on what was once public property. He claimed that he had stopped such sales when he was Chief Minister in 2006. The Union Minister asserted that the Prime Minister and Finance Minister are close to approving a special revival package, and that the Forest Department's action is an attempt to derail it.

The minister did not provide evidence to support his allegations, but stated that he possesses documents showing past land transactions. The Karnataka government has not yet responded to the accusations.