MUDA 'scam': CM Siddaramaiah claims conspiracy as he belongs to backward class
Mysuru (Karnataka), Jul 11: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged that he was unnecessarily being targeted in the case of alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which involves plots given to his wife Parvathi.
Claiming that a conspiracy is being hatched against him out of heartburn as he belongs to a backward class community and has become the chief minister for a second time, he asserted that he won't fear such conspiracies.
The chief minister was reacting to BJP state president B Y Vijayendra announcing a "mega" protest in Mysuru -- Siddaramaiah's home district -- on July 12 in connection with the alleged "scam".
"Haven't we given it (MUDA scam) for a probe.....BJP is doing things for politics, we will have to do politics if they do politics. Let them do it (protest) under anyone's leadership, let them do it under J P Nadda (BJP national president) leadership. If they do it, we will also do it politically. Can only they do politics? We also know how to counter it politically," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
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To a question about the BJP trying to target him over sites allotted to his wife, the CM said, "They have to say where it is illegal. We are saying that things are legal. Let them show that it is illegal."
"Unnecessarily (I'm being targeted) for the sake of politics. They are doing it for the sake of politics as they couldn't find anything against me. As Siddaramaiah, who is from the backward class, has become the chief minister for the second time, people are having heartburn, so conspiracy is being hatched. Will I fear for such conspiracies?" he asked.
It is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife 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.
The controversial scheme envisages allotting 50 per cent of developed land to the land loser in lieu of undeveloped land acquired for forming layouts.
Stating that he will ensure there is "cleanup" in MUDA, which has been "rotten" for some time now, even during the BJP rule, the chief minister in response to a question said, inquiry will be done regarding alleged irregularities that have happened there.
"My family's case is not a scandal, our case is different from others. In our case, our land was illegally taken over and used by MUDA for making a layout," he said.
Noting that in 2014, the MUDA, despite the 3.16 acres of his wife's land not belonging to it, made sites on it and allocated them to people, Siddaramaiah said, "what should we do? Should we keep quiet? Alternate sites were sought by us, but we did not seek them in any specific locality -- Vijayanagara."
Noting that the BJP was in power when alternate sites were allocated, the CM said, "who should be responsible? It is they who gave alternate sites in the locality (Vijayanagara). We did not ask for it (in Vijayanagara). We only asked for alternate sites to be given to us in lieu of our land that was taken over by MUDA."
"If MUDA committed the wrong when BJP was in power, how can Siddaramaiah be responsible for it?" he questioned.
As per the land acquisition act, his family is entitled to compensation from MUDA for taking over the land, Siddaramaiah said. "MUDA will have to pay Rs 62 crore (as compensation). Let them take back the alternate sites allotted. We had not asked for it in Vijayanagar...it was done while BJP was in power," he said.
To a question about activist T J Abraham filing a complaint with the Election Commission against him alleging that he had failed to disclose his wife Parvathi's ownership of 3 acres and 16 guntas land in his election affidavit, Siddaramaiah said, "If the Election Commission gives notice, I will respond to it. Will give whatever answer has to be given in accordance with law."
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
