Mysuru:

 Asserting that he only indulged in politics of honesty, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is facing probe into the MUDA ‘scam’ case, on Tuesday said despite being a CM he doesn’t own a house, and accused the opposition parties of making false allegations against him.

He also claimed that the opposition, especially the BJP is unable to stomach that Mr Siddaramaiah, a person belonging to the backward class has become the Chief Minister of the state for a second time.

Mr Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Mr Siddaramaiah’s wife, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju — from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi — and others are named as other accused in the case by Lokayukta.

“Being a Chief Minister, should I live in a rented house? In someone’s house? Tell me. Why I’m telling you this is because you are my owners and masters. You blessed me…” he said.

Speaking at a public meeting in his Assembly constituency of Varuna here, the CM said false allegations are being levelled (against me), as they (opposition) are unable to digest — Kumaraswamy (JDS leader), Yediyurappa, Vijayendra, Ashoka, Pralhad Joshi (all BJP leaders) are unable to bear (that I’m Chief Minister).” Claiming that other than the house that is being constructed on Kuvempu road in Mysuru, he doesn’t own any other property, the CM said, “it is still not yet completed, it has been three years since we started constructing it, work is slowly on since last three years.” “Being a Chief Minister… see how I’m being blamed, to bring down my charisma. But it is you (people) who give me that charisma, give blessings and give power, and only you can take it back,” he added.

Averring that he was doing politics of honesty, Mr Siddaramaiah said he is not only serving the Varuna segment, but the entire state and is working towards the upliftment of the poor without any discrimination of caste, creed or religion.

He said, “opposition is unable to digest that your Siddaramaiah has become the CM for a second time. I belong to a backward class community. BJP doesn’t want a backward class person to become Chief Minister, they don’t want him to — walk the talk, work for the poor and implement social justice. Because the BJP is anti social justice and anti poor…”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Union Minister of State for Ministry of Labour and Employment, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday accused Karnataka Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh of burning all files related to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case to “save” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Addressing media persons at the party office, she said: “CM Siddaramaiah, your Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh went to Mysuru. All files after 1997 were loaded into his car. Where did those files go? To protect you, all files of MUDA were taken away by Minister Suresh and burnt.”

She sought the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah and the arrest of Byrathi Suresh.

She said the investigation was not only about investigating Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law and land owner and fourth accused J. Devaraju.

The Minister urged the investigating agencies to probe CM Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvathy.

“You (CM Siddaramaiah) take moral responsibility. You are a criminal. After the Governor sanctioned the prosecution under the 17 A and the High Court and the Special Court slammed you and the Lokayukta started a probe, former MUDA Chairman K. Marigowda’s resignation was not enough,” she said.

The Minister hit out at CM Siddaramaiah, saying the ED, probing the case, has stated he has “bent the law to benefit his family. “

“Firstly, the land you have taken itself was illegal. Originally, the land belonged to the person from the Scheduled Caste. The land did not belong to Devaraju, who claimed to be the owner. How did you get the land? How did your brother-in-law get the land?” she asked.

“You (CM Siddaramaiah) were in one or the other Constitutional position when the scam occurred. You got sites allotted in the prime locality and returned them. The returning of sites itself is evidence for the crime,” she slammed.

“I want to ask CM Siddaramaiah why he accepted the resignation of MUDA Chairman K. Marigowda? Gowda was your close associate. Are you planning to blame him for the scam,” she said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Rahul Kharge on Sunday wrote to the CEO of Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), seeking cancellation of the ownership of the five-acre plot allotted to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust.

In a letter to KIADB CEO, Rahul Kharge, who is also the Chairman of Siddhartha Vihar Trust, wrote: “We withdraw our proposal and request the board to cancel the allotment of CA site requested for the multiple skill development centre and research centre.”

“The board may accept it as a voluntary surrender of the CA site as per Clause 8 of the allotment letter,” he wrote further in the letter dated September 20, 2024.

Rahul Kharge’s surrender of the land assumes importance as it comes against the backdrop of the MUDA land scam heat. It also comes close on the heels of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah returning the controversial MUDA land allotment, which had drawn criticism from the Opposition.

The controversy over the five-acre plot began in March 2024, when the Siddaramaiah government granted land to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, headed by Rahul Kharge.

This drew quick condemnation and criticism from the BJP’s Karnataka unit which accused the Congress-led state government of ‘power abuse and nepotism’ for extending undue favours to party members.

The Karnataka BJP also demanded the removal of Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyanka Kharge from the Karnataka Cabinet, accusing him of facilitating an illegal land deal for his family by the KIADB.

Meanwhile, Priyank Kharge took to X and slammed the BJP for creating “needless controversy” over the issue.

He said that Siddhartha Vihar Trust is an educational, cultural and charitable trust and not a family or private entity.

“The trust did not wish to be drawn into long-drawn controversies which will divert attention and efforts from the primary objective of education and social service,” he said.

He also shot back at the BJP, saying: “A person who can’t hold a bat can become Chairman of ICC or BCCI under the BJP regime, but a person who was conferred Agni Award from DRDO for Excellence in Self Reliance can’t build a skill development centre for the youth.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah – battling vehement calls to quit over the alleged Mysuru land scam – counterattacked Friday, flagging Janata Dal Secular boss HD Kumaraswamy and asking why his party’s ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, had not demanded his resignation too.

“Which government does HD Kumaraswamy belong to? There is an FIR… why did he not resign? He is a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet,” he said Friday afternoon. Mr Kumaraswamy faces a police case over claims he provided “false information” before the Lok Sabha election.

The JDS boss is currently the Union Heavy Industries Minister. He lost no time in hitting back on X, beginning with a “‘uighe, uighe to your sidvilasa” – which translates roughly as mocking praise.

He pointed to attempts by Siddaramaiah’s earlier government to form an Anti-Corruption Bureau by clipping the state Lokayukta’s wings, and contrasted that with him now trying to ensure the Lokayukta, and not the CBI, a federal agency, conducts inquiries against him.

“Isn’t this karma, Mr Siddaramaiah? ACB was also dismissed by the High Court… and now you have sidelined the Lokayukta and closed the door for the CBI to enter the state…” he jeered, referring to a 2022 verdict that said the then state government could not set up an ACB as a Lokayukta is operating.

Mr. @siddaramaiah..
Ughe Ughe to your ‘Sidvilasa’

Then: To escape from scams, you build a ‘samadhi’ for Lokayukta and formed ACB!

Now: The same Lokayukta is a place you found to get rid of ‘Mudahagaran’!!

Isn’t it Karma Mr siddaramaiah?
ACB was also dismissed by the High Court…

— ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ.ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ | H.D.Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) September 27, 2024

Siddaramaiah’s jab at HD Kumaraswamy underlines the pressure – from the BJP, the JDS, and even by some within his own party – the Chief Minister faces in his battle to retain his post.

READ | “Request…”: Under-Fire Siddaramaiah Faces ‘Quit’ Calls From Within Party

So far, though, he is defiant. On Thursday, after a special court ordered a police case and directed the Lokayukta to finish inquiries in three months, he declared “I am not afraid”.

“I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally,” he said after a second setback in as many days. On Wednesday the High Court had quashed his challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot’s sanction to prosecute a sitting Chief Minister.

READ | “Governor’s Action As Per Law”: Big Setback For Siddaramaiah

The Chief Minister on Thursday also hit out at Mr Modi after the Prime Minister’s sharp comments about the Congress government in Karnataka at a rally in poll-bound Haryana.

Prime Minister @narendramodi, in his usual reckless manner, has claimed there is infighting within the Karnataka Congress. It seems the PM has either misread or deliberately twisted the recent media reports, confusing BJP’s internal chaos with Congress. I demand that he…

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 26, 2024

In a lengthy post on X Siddaramaiah told the PM “don’t throw stones while sitting in a glass house”, pointing to what he said was infighting in his party’s state unit.

MUDA Land Scam Case  

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims his wife, Parvathi, was allotted multiple plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere – an exchange that allegedly cost the state losses of at least Rs 4,000 crore – taken for infrastructure projects.

He has firmly denied the charge; last month he said he had not done anything illegal in a political career of four decades, and expressed confidence the judiciary would absolve him.

READ | “In 40 Years Did Nothing Wrong”: Siddaramaiah Amid Land Scam Row

The Chief Minister, who has been firmly backed by his party; his deputy, DK Shivakumar; and members of his Cabinet, has also, so far, dismissed calls to summon the CBI, insisting the inquiry will be handled by the Mysuru branch of the state Lokayukta.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, his government withdrew general consent for the federal agency in a move many see as a pre-emptive measure in case the High Court orders a CBI probe.

READ | “CBI Biased”: Karnataka Withdraws Permission To Operate In State

The agency now cannot investigate in Karnataka without the state government’s permission.

Law Minister HK Patil refused any link between this move and the land scam allegations facing the Chief Minister, expressing, as many other opposition parties have, “concerns about the misuse of the agency”. “They are biased… that is why are taking this decision,” he said.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Bengaluru:

“I am not afraid…” Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared Wednesday, shortly after a trial court said a police case must be filed against him – based on a complaint by activist Snehamayi Krishna – in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority land scam case.

Earlier today the Special Court of the People’s Representatives had directed the state’s Lokayukta to conduct an inquiry and submit a report in three months. The Chief Minister’s response was swift. “I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally.”

However, the activist whose complaint will feed the case against the Chief Minister is not fully satisfied, and has said he wants the investigation to “happen by the CBI only”. “The court said the probe will happen by Lokayukta but, once FIR is filed… we will approach Karnataka High Court,” he declared. 

The Chief Minister will now face an inquiry into claims his wife, Parvathi, was allotted multiple plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere – an exchange that allegedly cost the state losses of at least Rs 4,000 crore – taken for infrastructure projects.

Siddaramaiah has firmly denied the charge; last month he said he had not done anything illegal in a political career spanning four decades, and expressed confidence the judiciary would absolve him.

This is the second setback to the Congress leader in as many days; on Tuesday the High Court dismissed his challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot sanctioning his prosecution in the MUDA case. Siddaramaiah argued Mr Gehlot did not “apply his mind”, but the court disagreed, ruling the Governor “did apply his mind in abundance”. “No fault in the Governor’s actions,” the court said.

READ | “Governor’s Action As Per Law”: Big Setback For Siddaramaiah

In passing its order, the High Court also rolled back its August 19 order to the trial court – to not take action against the Chief Minister till his petition claiming Mr Gehlot’s action as “illegal” is settled.

After the order Siddaramaiah underlined his confidence in the judicial system and slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “revenge politics”, stating, “I believe in the law… The truth will finally win.”

The MUDA land scam row has become a major flashpoint, with the BJP and its ally, the Janata Dal Secular, targeting the ruling Congress and demanding Siddaramaiah’s resignation.

On Tuesday, after the High Court’s verdict, the BJP held vociferous protests across the state once again calling on the Chief Minister to quit. The party’s state unit boss, BY Vijayendra, pointed to the court’s ruling and slammed the Congress for saying the allegations are a “political conspiracy”.

READ | “Siddaramaiah Must Quit”: BJP After Chief Minister’s Land Scam Setback

“BJP has been relentlessly fighting against the corrupt Congress government… the High Court has clearly said the decision by the Governor is correct. The Chief Minister should resign immediately…”

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called the verdict a “slap on the Congress government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah”. “The Karnataka High Court has answered all questions that were raised (and now) Siddaramaiah should resign, so an impartial investigation can be conducted by the CBI…”

Ramping up pressure on Siddaramaiah, BJP workers tried to gherao Siddaramaiah’s Bengaluru residence, prompting police – who had been placed on high alert – to take dozens into custody.

The BJP-Congress face-off over the MUDA scam allegations also comes as the two parties go head-to-head in next week’s Haryana Assembly election and the ongoing election in Jammu and Kashmir.

It also drew sharp barbs from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Haryana’s Sonipat this afternoon; Mr Modi referred to the Congress’ Karnataka government and criticised Siddaramaiah.

The Congress, meanwhile, has come out swinging in support of Siddaramaiah. The party has claimed a “conspiracy” against its Chief Minister, pointing to corruption allegations that have landed other opposition leaders – including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – in jail.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka HC dismisses petition by CM Siddaramaiah challenging Governor’s sanction for his prosecution in alleged MUDA scam.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, “I am telling you again, there is no setback to the CM. It is a big conspiracy on all our leaders,… pic.twitter.com/VpLcSWUDyi

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2024

Immediately after the High Court verdict Siddaramaiah’s deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the Congress’ state unit boss, said “there is no question (of the Chief Minister resigning)… he has not done anything wrong and is not involved in any scam. This is a political conspiracy by the BJP…”

Siddaramaiah has also been backed by his ministers, including Priyank Kharge, who is the son of Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge, and Ramalinga Reddy, who said his boss is “100 per cent clean”.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.