The 'padayatre' sought to highlight the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA, including to Siddaramaiah's wife.
Published Aug 07, 2024 | 2:20 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 07, 2024 | 2:20 PM
BJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra and JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy during the padayatre. (X)
The Opposition BJP and JD(S)’ clamour for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation, over an alleged land allotment scam continued with their protest march entering the fifth day on Wednesday, 7 August.
This is even as Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is weighing options vis-a-vis the petition seeking sanction for Siddaramaiah’s prosecution in connection with the scam after the Congress government urged him to withdraw show-cause notice to the chief minister.
The week-long Bengaluru -Mysuru ‘padayatre‘ (foot march) has sought to highlight the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), including to Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah asked BJP veteran and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa to retire from public life as he was accused in a case under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The fifth day of the ‘Mysuru Chalo’ march began in Mandya and is scheduled to cover a distance of 15 km to reach Tubinakere in the district.
BJP State President and MLA BY Vijayendra, JD(S) state president and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, several legislators, leaders and workers from both parties took part as the march resumed.
A large number of workers and leaders from both parties were seen shouting slogans against Siddaramaiah and the Congress government, holding BJP and JD(S) party flags and placards, amidst 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 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, 20 km on day three to reach Nidaghatta, and 20 km to reach Mandya city on day four.
Siddaramaih responded to Yediyurappa asking for his resignation by questioning the latter’s moral right.
“Yediyurappa is facing POCSO charges and a charge sheet has been submitted. He is outside on the mercy of the court,” the chief minister told reporters in Mysuru.
“Accused won’t get bail in this (POCSO) case. What moral right does Yediyurappa have? At the age of 82 years, he is facing POCSO charges. He should take retirement from the public life,” Siddaramaiah added.
“In Yediyurappa’s case, he took money through cheque and denotified as well. What have we done?” he questioned
“Are there any letters or orders or statements from me (on recommending these sites)? When I was the CM in 2014, my wife had applied for compensation. I had issued strict directives to the MUDA not to give sites until I am at the helm,” he added reiterating that he had not misused his powers to get sites for his family.
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.
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’.
Based on a petition filed by advocate-activist TJ Abraham, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlotissued “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.
The Karnataka government on 1 August had “strongly advised” the Governor to withdraw his “show-cause notice” to the chief minister, and alleged “gross misuse of the Constitutional Office ” of the Governor.
(With inputs from PTI)
