Goa, Oct. 17 -- Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has sharply criticised the Karnataka government's newly announced B-Khata to A-Khata conversion scheme in Bengaluru, questioning its affordability for ordinary citizens and branding it "extortion."

Addressing the issue, Kumaraswamy said, "For conversion of B-Khata to A-Khata, they are charging an application fee of Rs 500, and then 5 per cent of the guidance value of the property. For someone with a revenue site who has been paying taxes to the corporation, they now have to pay Rs 2-8 lakh for a 30x40 sq ft site. I'm not sure where people will get this money."

He further criticised the scheme, suggesting that the government could earn Rs 10-15 thousand crores from it, asking rhetorically, "S...