Published Aug 06, 2024 | 1:40 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 07, 2024 | 2:17 PM
BJP- JD(S) Padayatra. (X)
The combined opposition, BJP and JD(S), on Tuesday, 6 August, continued their protest march, demanding the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment “scam.”
The week-long Bengaluru -Mysuru padayatra (foot march) has sought to highlight the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA, including to Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi.
The fourth day of the ‘Mysuru Chalo’ protest began at Nidaghatta near Mandya and is scheduled to cover a distance of 20 km to reach the district headquarters city of Mandya.
On Monday, activist TJ Abraham submitted a memorandum to the MUDA Commissioner seeking the cancellation and recall of the 14 alternative compensatory sites given to the wife of CM Siddaramaiah, BM Parvathi.
The memorandum demanded reallocation or revocation of the allotments of 14 sites, bearing site numbers 25, 331, 332, 213, 214, 215, 5, 5108, 5085, 11189, 10855, 12065, 12068 and 216 in Vijayanagar, 3rd Stage, “C”, “D”, “E”, “G” Blocks and 4th Stage, 2nd Phase, in Mysuru, made to BM Parvathi.
Tracing the history of ownership of the said land, which was allegedly taken by MUDA, Abraham notes, ” In short, there were no agricultural lands neither when the sale deed was executed on 25 August, 2004, nor when the so-called conversion was granted on 15 July, 2005.”
“There were no agricultural lands neither when the gift deed dated 20 October, 2o10, was executed, nor when the release deed was executed on 25 November, 2021. Most importantly, there has been no acquisition of 3 acres and 16 gunta lands in S.No.464 of Kesere village, after 25 August 2004.”
“As such the allotment of 14 alternative compensatory sites (total measuring 37,975 Sq.fts) is illegal,” he added.
Based on a petition filed by the same advocate-activist, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot issued a “show-cause notice” on 26 July, directing the chief minister to submit his reply to the allegations against him within seven days as to why permission for prosecution should not be granted against him.
Subsequently, the Karnataka government had “strongly advised” the Governor to withdraw his “show-cause notice” to the CM, and alleged “gross misuse of the Constitutional Office ” of the Governor. The Council of Ministers after their meeting had said a concerted effort is being made to destabilise a lawfully elected majority government in Karnataka for political considerations.
BJP State President and MLA BY Vijayendra, former Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Assembly Arvind Bellad, several legislators, leaders and workers from both parties took part as the march resumed.
Speaking at the march, BJP state general secretary P Rajeev trained guns at the chief minister, stating that, Siddaramaiah, as a law graduate should know that law is equal for all.
Answering the questions of reporters in Maddur, P Rajeev counter-questioned, “What words did Siddaramaiah use when Hansraj Bhardwaj allowed an investigation against Yeddyurappa?”
Further speaking of the party, P Rajeev said, “There is unity in our party from the grassroots level to the national level. Our unity is based on integrity; their unity is to protect corruption. This is the difference.”
A large number of workers and leaders from both parties were seen marching shouting slogans against Siddaramaiah and the Congress government, holding BJP and JD(S) party flags and placards, amidst the sounds of drum beats.
The stretch through which the march passed was decked up with flags of both parties, buntings and portraits of prominent leaders at several places.
Kickstarted on Saturday, 3 August, at Kengeri near Bengaluru, the march on its first day had covered a distance of 16 km to reach Bidadi, 22 km on day two to reach Kengal, and 20 km on day three to reach Nidaghatta.
On the third day, 5 August, BY Vijayendra said, “We are conducting this Padayatra to oust the corrupt Congress government.”
He reiterated, “We are not doing this Padayatra to come to power. The state government led by Siddaramaiah, which came to power in the name of AHINDA (a coalition of minorities, backward classes, and Dalits), has looted the funds allocated for the development of scheduled communities. We are fighting to bring down this corrupt chief minister and to deliver justice to the oppressed, exploited, and deprived.”
“As a result of our struggle, senior Congress leaders from Delhi came to the state yesterday. Despite their wrongdoing and being immersed in corruption, they have instructed the legislators to stand by the chief minister,” he added.
In the MUDA ‘scam’, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been “acquired” by the MUDA.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.
Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 percent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts.
BJP leaders have claimed that the MUDA “scam” is of the magnitude of ₹4,000 crore to ₹5,000 crore.
The Congress government on 14 July, constituted a single-member inquiry commission under former High Court Judge Justice PN Desai to probe the MUDA ‘scam’.
(With inputs from Nolan Patrick Pinto, and PTI)
