The opposition parties said they would continue their protest on the issue in both Houses on Thursday, 25 July, too.
Published Jul 25, 2024 | 9:56 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 25, 2024 | 5:56 PM
BJP and JD(S) MLAs protest in Karnataka Legislature. (X)
The Opposition BJP and JD(S) held an all-night dharna in both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature demanding a discussion on the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which involves plots given to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife.
The BJP and JD(S) legislators spent the night in the Assembly and Council.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil on Thursday, 25 July, slammed the Opposition BJP over its all-night agitation in the Karnataka legislature after the party’s demand to discuss the MUDA ‘scam’ was denied.
As part of the protest, they held demonstrations holding placards and raised slogans — in the form of “bhajans” — against the Congress government, Siddaramaiah and Speaker UT Khader for not allowing a discussion.
The legislators including Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, and BJP state President and MLA BY Vijayendra later slept in the Assembly premises.
Similar scenes were seen at the Legislative Council too.
The Opposition parties said they would continue their protest on the issue in both Houses on Thursday too.
#Karnataka: @BJP4Karnataka MLAs and MLCs are staging a “day-and-night” dharna in both Legislative Assembly and Council over not allowing discussion regarding the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by #Mysuru Urban Development Authority (#MUDA), which involves… pic.twitter.com/MBCar0PEpt
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) July 24, 2024
Claiming that the needle of suspicion in the MUDA “scam” is pointing towards the family of the “most important person” of the state, the Opposition on Wednesday demanded that the discussion be allowed on the issue.
They also alleged a political motive behind formation of the inquiry commission to probe the alleged irregularities, and said it was aimed at denying the House an opportunity to debate the issue.
However, their plans to corner Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his government with a discussion under adjournment motion in both Houses suffered a setback with Assembly Speaker Khader and Council Chairperson Basavaraj Horatti rejecting their notice, citing rules.
Patil said the BJP has used the ongoing legislative session for their political advantage despite explaining to them why the adjournment motion into the alternative site (plot) scam in the MUDA cannot be taken up.
He said Siddaramaiah has ordered an investigation into the irregularities in the MUDA by a retired judge of the High Court.
“The CM has formed a commission to investigate the allegations against him. Is there any example of a chief minister forming a commission of inquiry when there was an allegation against him?” Patil asked.
He sought to know from the Opposition BJP and its ally JD(S) if there is any instance of former chief ministers HD Kumaraswamy, BS Yeddyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai setting up a commission.
“The Opposition party should have appreciated the CM’s stand. This (overnight agitation) is just a political drama,” the minister said in a statement.
He reminded that the Opposition is not ready to discuss the landslide at Shirur in the Uttara Kannada district.
Patil alleged that the BJP is also not keen on discussing the bills on One Nation One Election, Re-establishing Common Entrance Test (CET) against National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) and several others for the benefit of people.
In protest, the BJP, joined by its alliance partner JD (S), announced that they would stage a “day-and-night” dharna in the Legislative Assembly and Council demanding a discussion on the issue.
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.
Several supporters of Siddaramaiah too have allegedly “benefitted this way,” BJP leaders alleged.
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.
The controversial scheme envisages allotting 50 percent of developed land to the land loser in lieu of undeveloped land acquired for forming layouts.
(With PTI inputs)
