Hubballi: Whistleblower S R Hiremath , who took on illegal miners not too long ago, has now trained his guns on the Adichunchanagiri Math, claiming it has encroached on seven acres and 35 guntas in the Turahalli reserve forest near Kengeri and urging the government to reclaim the land .

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Mr Hiremath , who is founder president of the Samaja Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) , said the court of the Chief Conservator of Forest, Bengaluru circle, had on December 19 this year dismissed an appeal filed by the mutt against the 2009 eviction order issued by the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF).

“Almost five years have passed since the ACF issued the order, but the government has still done nothing as the mutt has huge political clout.

But it must evict it from the land at least now,” he demanded, urging the state government to strongly defend the order of the Chief Conservator of Forests should the mutt challenge it in court.

Reiterating his charges against energy minister, D K Shivkumar, the activist said the SPS would intensify its campaign for a special court to try the cases against him.

“Activists, advocates and scientists have written to AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, PM Narendra Modi and CM Siddaramaiah with evidence, seeking action against the minister, ” he added, and warned that unless Siddaramiah dropped him, Congress would be reduced to a non-entity in Karnataka.