Mahadevappa backs Siddu, says clean chit was expected

DISMISSING speculation regarding leadership change in the state, Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa on Thursday asserted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah continues to enjoy the full support of Congress legislators.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mysuru

DEPUTY Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Thursday defended the Lokayukta report giving clean chit to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family members in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites allotment case and slammed the BJP which has termed the probe biased.

"Lokayukta has done its job. BJP can continue its protest if it wants to. This is a conspiracy by BJP and JDS. It can't go on forever," Shivakumar, who is also state Congress president, told the media in Bengaluru.

It is natural to ask for compensation when you lose land and they haven't asked for sites in any specific area, Shivakumar said, adding that they have returned the sites just to avoid more controversy.