New Delhi:
The killing of the Karnataka official SP Mahantesh, said to be the whistle-blower in the controversial land allotments by societies, was raised in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday by CPI-M member KN Balagopal.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Balagopal said that Mr Mahantesh was a crucial source of some of the stories that appeared in the newspapers published on the corruption and irregularity in the land allotment for various cooperative societies including that of BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited) employees in Banglaore.
He said over a dozen RTI activists and whistle-blowers have been murdered in last one year and that the government has "pathetically failed" to protect them, he insisted that the murder of Mr Mahantesh is different as he had released a copy of the report on land allotment to the BEML.
Army Chief General VK Singh had said in an interview that the money was offered to him to clear the purchase of 600 "sub-standard" Tatra trucks. Tatra, a Czech manufacturer, supplies trucks to the Army through BEML. These trucks are manufactured in the Czech Republic.
On the controversy surrounding the supply of Tatra Trucks to Indian Army through BEML, Balagopal said, "it is for the Centre to prove that the murder is not related to Tatra Truck and BEML."
Mr Mahantesh succumbed to injuries after being assaulted a few days back. His death triggered strong reactions from the civil society and the political class.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Balagopal said that Mr Mahantesh was a crucial source of some of the stories that appeared in the newspapers published on the corruption and irregularity in the land allotment for various cooperative societies including that of BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited) employees in Banglaore.
He said over a dozen RTI activists and whistle-blowers have been murdered in last one year and that the government has "pathetically failed" to protect them, he insisted that the murder of Mr Mahantesh is different as he had released a copy of the report on land allotment to the BEML.
Army Chief General VK Singh had said in an interview that the money was offered to him to clear the purchase of 600 "sub-standard" Tatra trucks. Tatra, a Czech manufacturer, supplies trucks to the Army through BEML. These trucks are manufactured in the Czech Republic.
On the controversy surrounding the supply of Tatra Trucks to Indian Army through BEML, Balagopal said, "it is for the Centre to prove that the murder is not related to Tatra Truck and BEML."
Mr Mahantesh succumbed to injuries after being assaulted a few days back. His death triggered strong reactions from the civil society and the political class.
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