Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is currently facing allegations of fraud in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment. While the opposition BJP is stepping up its demands that he vacate the post, Siddaramaiah has denied any wrongdoing in his four-decade political career.
Commenting on the senior Congress leader’s recent statement, he said that while he was both the Chief Minister and Minister, no one could accuse him of having abused power for personal enrichment. “I am clean,” he said.
Siddaramaiah also placed much faith in the legal process – the Karnataka High Court, specifically, to have filed a petition against the Governor’s decision to inaugurate his prosecution. He was equally confident in getting interim relief and quashing the prosecution that was sanctinated by the Governor.
The debacle advanced to another level during the week when the governor of Rajasthan, Thaawar Chand Gehlot, approved the prosecution actions of three activists’ petitions. In response, Siddaramaiah described the Governor’s order as ‘anti-Constitution’ and ‘against the law’ and underscored that he had done no wrong to have to resign.
The Chief Minister’s legal fight came amid Congress protests, and the party protested throughout the state and in Mysuru. Siddaramaiah described the Governor as BJP’s ‘puppet’ while Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar described the sanction as ‘murder of democracy’.
The controversy revolves around the MUDA scam, in which, it is claimed, land was given to Parvathi, the wife of Siddaramaiah, at a premium of ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 crore to the cost of the lands acquired for the purpose. In the current fiscal year, activist TJ Abraham filed a complaint alleging that 14 plots in Mysuru were allotted unlawfully, causing a loss of ₹45 crore.
Siddaramaiah said this was the land his wife’s brother gifted him in 1998. Nevertheless, some allegations have been made that the land acquisition was fraudulent and that the titles were improperly procured with the help of some government officials. While more and more dust storms hit Karnataka politics, Siddaramaiah ensured his stand remained clear: the Governor must resign, not otherwise.
