Mahadeva Prasad was not against free distribution of saplings

Mysore, May 16 (UNI) Karnataka Minister for Kannada and Culture H S Mahadeva Prasad today clarified that he was not against free distribution of saplings to Karnataka 'Vanasmarudhana' Trust of Sri Adhichunchanagiri Mutt.

When newsmen drew his attention to the allegations by Minister for Forest Chennigappa earlier in the day in Bangalore, he said he had not expressed any views in the press on the matter which was discussed in the cabinet meeting.

Mr Prasad said he was not against any programmes of the Forest Department and added he had favoured the continuation of such programmes.

He also clarified that the former minister H Naggappa's case has been handed over to the CBI by the state government. The state government had constituted Justice Vidyanathan Commission which had suggested that this case could be handed over to the CBI for further investigations whether Mr Nagappa's was killed by forest brigand Veerappan's or in an encounter by the Tamil Nadu STF. Even Nagappa's wife Parimala Nagappa and his family members also wanted a CBI inquiry into the case to know the facts, he added.

He said without knowing the facts the leader of the opposition Dharam Singh had criticised the government's decision to recommend CBI inquiry into the incidents.

UNI