'My son approached court to assert rights': Karnataka minister K J George

'If the government had approved my son’s request, the media would have accused me of misusing power. Hence, my son has directly filed a petition in the court, adhering to the law. As the case is sub judice, I cannot comment further,' George said during a press conference on Saturday.

Madikeri: Karnataka Energy Minister K J George clarified that his son, Rana George, has approached the court to assert his legal rights and not to oppose the government.

Responding to a question about his son's High Court petition, George explained that Rana has sought a directive to forest officials to allow unrestricted movement, both day and night, through roads within the Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary to access his private lands in Shambugowdanahalli and Lakkasoge villages in HD Kote taluk, Mysuru district.

"If the government had approved my son’s request, the media would have accused me of misusing power. Hence, my son has directly filed a petition in the court, adhering to the law. Everyone must respect the court's decision. As the case is sub judice, I cannot comment further," George said during a press conference on Saturday.

When asked about former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra’s statement that "people from mental hospitals are now in Vidhana Soudha," George retorted, "Did he come from a mental hospital when he served as Home Minister?"

George dismissed concerns about political defections, and said "Operation Kamala is nothing new. It happened in the past and is ongoing in other states as well. However, all Congress MLAs in Karnataka are united."

The state government has not politicised the Covid-19 scams, he added