LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy talks about his appointment, the MUDA Scam, the SC/ST reservation and the council losing its sanctity in recent days.
Published Aug 21, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 21, 2024 | 9:00 AM
BJP LoP Narayanaswamy Chalavadi. (Supplied)
BJP’s senior Dalit leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy has recently been appointed as the Leader of Opposition for the Karnataka Legislative Council by the BJP high command.
Associated with the Congress for over four decades, Narayanaswamy switched to the BJP. Following this, the party has entrusted big responsibility to him, by naming him the Leader of Opposition for the council despite having strong competitors.
In his exclusive conversation with South First, LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy talks about his appointment, the MUDA Scam, the SC/ST reservation and the council losing its sanctity in recent days.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:
Q. What is the significance of your appointment as the Leader of Opposition in the council by the BJP?
A. Social justice is not the exclusive domain of any political party. However, the BJP has been committed to upholding it. Despite this, the Congress party has consistently accused the BJP of being indifferent to social justice.
But with my appointment, it’s clear that the BJP is dedicated to social justice. The stigma of neglecting social justice doesn’t belong to the BJP, but rather to the Congress, which has made it a habit to level baseless allegations.
After spending four decades with Congress, I’ve come to realize that the party prioritizes appeasement over merit. I’ve never been one to appease others, whether in Congress or any other political party.
Fortunately, the BJP recognizes my worth and has appointed me as the Opposition Leader in the Council, a testament to their commitment to meritocracy.
Q. BJP’s Seven-time MP Ramesh Jigajinagji has expressed displeasure with the party’s high command for not including the senior-most Dalit leader in the cabinet and suggested that the BJP prioritizes upper castes over Dalits. How do you respond to these comments?
A. Ramesh Jigajinagi is a senior leader, and when someone like him is denied a position, they can become emotional and speak out of turn without fully understanding the situation. That’s his problem.
In contrast, I have found the BJP to be respectful and merit-based. After spending four decades in Congress, I joined the BJP and was treated with respect. They actively seek out talented individuals and accommodate them in the cabinet if they meet the criteria.
Jigajinagi should be mindful of his comments. Many were surprised by his exclusion from Modi’s cabinet, and some questioned why they weren’t considered. With limited positions and many aspirants, only a few can be selected. Senior leaders like Jigajinagi should refrain from making such comments.
The Congress’ anti-BJP propaganda has misled Dalits, making them feel limited. However, they have now seen through this rhetoric and are joining the BJP in large numbers. The BJP is actively recognizing and empowering talented leaders from the Scheduled caste and Scheduled tribe communities, providing them with a platform to grow and contribute
Q. Congress party alleges that the Governor is acting at the behest of the BJP.
A. Has the Congress used the Governor in a similar manner during their regime? Is it a common practice for the grand old party? If so, their accusations would hold some merit. However, their claims are entirely false and politically motivated.
The Governor, as the head of the Constitution, remains impartial and does not act on behalf of any MLAs, MPs, or ministers. Their accusations are baseless and driven by political agenda.
The Governor is not acting against the Constitution. How can they blame him? Actually, there is a scandal in the MUDA. If anyone files complaints before the Governor, he has to look into the matter. If there are any issues then he has to issue orders for prosecution. He has only this much power.
The same situation unfolded with former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa earlier. Although the circumstances differ, the Governor has now approved an investigation, and the government should accept this decision. When we proposed a resolution for discussion on the MUDA scam in both houses, the government denied it. They should have allowed the discussion.
If the chief minister is innocent, he should have accepted the debate. Instead, they abruptly ended the session a day early. Now, the chief minister is responding to questions outside the house, but he should have done so within the assembly.
This forced us to take our protest to the streets, approach the Governor, and ultimately, the court. The Congress and the chief minister themselves created this situation.
Siddaramaiah claims that his wife was compensated 14 sites during the BJP’s tenure in Karnataka. What are your direct allegations against the chief minister?
The chief minister’s explanation about acquiring 14 sites is irrelevant. The real issue is the ownership of the land. In 1935, Ninga, a Dalit, purchased the land for ₹1 in an auction. He passed away in 1965, and his wife in 1990. In 1991-92, MUDA acquired the land, providing compensation and allotting sites by 1996-97. This should have settled the matter.
However, in 1998, the land was denotified, when Siddaramaiah was the deputy chief minister at the time. His family had been eyeing the land, and his brother-in-law was involved in the issue. How can they denotify the land that does not exist?
In 2004, 3.16 acres of land were purchased from Devaraj, one of Ninga’s sons, who lacked authority over the land. The land was then converted from agricultural to residential use in 2008 without necessary approvals.
In 2010, Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law gifted the land to his wife, Parvathy, who applied for alternative land citing encroachment. However, the land belonged to Ninga and was acquired by MUDA, making Parvathy’s claim invalid.
No compensation was sought until 2017, as Siddaramaiah became chief minister in 2013 and wanted to avoid a scandal.
In 2017, he appointed his aide Dhruva Kumar as MUDA Chairman, and the matter was approved after four failed attempts in the committee meeting of the MUDA.
Siddaramaiah claimed the sites under the 50:50 quota, introduced in 2016-17, despite the land being acquired in 1991-92. He illegally claimed the sites, and officials, under pressure, allotted them.
While Siddaramaiah may not have been directly involved, his family’s involvement implicates him. The matter wouldn’t have proceeded without his influence.
Q. It appears that the BJP has shifted its focus from the Valmiki Scam to the MUDA scam. Can you comment on this?
A. We are focusing on three significant scams: MUDA scam, Valmiki Scam, and diversion of SCP/TSP funds. Our primary emphasis is on the MUDA scam, as it is centred in Mysuru, where we held a padayatra.
However, we are also actively pursuing the Valmiki Scam, which involves Siddaramaiah’s direct transfer of funds from the exchequer to private accounts. This case is particularly egregious and warrants attention. We will continue to highlight and investigate all three scams in the coming days.
Q. Your party initiated internal reservations for SC/ST communities when in power. Now that the Congress is in power, what is the BJP’s current stance on this issue?
A. Earlier, there was a structure in place that did not classify Scheduled Caste as a caste. Many castes were brought under the SC/ST to give weightage and other facilities. States had no powers to sub-classify SC/ST communities. However, the court has now given powers to the state.
We also recommended internal reservations for the SC/ST communities. Now, the ball is in the court of the Congress. They have to decide.
Internal reservation is our brainchild, and we will support it, and won’t turn back from our previous stand.
Q. Do you anticipate challenges for the government in implementing internal reservations for SC/ST communities, considering the backlash from certain sub-sects?
A. We stand for social justice, hence, we recommended internal reservation. Now that they (Congress) are in power, they have to show how will they resolve the issue. There will definitely be challenges before the government. We have to see how the communities that opposed the move during our regime respond now.
Q. BJP’s Karnataka is said to be a divided house.
A. There is no division within the party. Some senior leaders occasionally criticize the party leadership’s decisions, which is a normal phenomenon. The high command has issued four show-cause notices to Yatnal but is giving him opportunities to rectify his actions and align with the party’s stance.
Vijayendra, although younger than some senior leaders, has proven himself to be a mature leader with strong community support. He has inherited his father’s influence and enjoys the enthusiasm of youngsters.
Not everyone opposes him, except for one or two individuals who were aspirants for prominent posts like the state party presidency. These are minor issues that will be resolved in the coming days.
Q. The Legislative Council is no longer seen as a house of intellectuals but rather a rehabilitation centre for those who lost assembly polls. How do you respond to these comments?
A. These questions should be directed at the ruling Congress party, not the BJP. The BJP is seeking a young leader who can provide effective governance and strengthen the party. The increasing presence of businessmen in politics, in both the upper and lower houses, is a concern.
Previously, the upper house was regarded as a think tank, but its standards have been declining. We aim to address this issue in the coming days. Notably, both houses have had stalwarts like GK Subbaiah, BS Yediyurappa, and KS Eshwarappa, among others.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula.)
