Controversy erupts over land allotment to trust linked to Cong Prez Mallikarjun Kharge's son
Bengaluru: A fresh controversy has emerged in Karnataka after BJP MP Lahar Singh Siroya accused the state government of misusing power in the allocation of land to a trust chaired by Rahul Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The allegations center around the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board’s (KIADB) decision to allot five acres in the Hitech Defence and Aerospace Park near Bengaluru to the Siddhartha Vihara Education Trust, which is chaired by Rahul Kharge.
In a social media post on Sunday, Siroya questioned the allotment, describing it as "misuse of power, nepotism, and conflict of interest." He further inquired how the state’s Industries Minister, MB Patil, consented to the allocation in March, suggesting potential favoritism in the decision.
Responding to these allegations, Minister Patil strongly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the allotment was made in accordance with KIADB norms. He clarified that the land was intended for the establishment of a research and development (R&D) center, adding that the process was transparent and based on recommendations from the state-level single-window committee.
Patil also pointed out that similar land allocations were made during the previous BJP government, including a controversial decision to allot 116 acres of land to RSS-run Chanakya University for Rs 50 crore—a deal that Patil claims resulted in a loss of Rs 137 crore to the state exchequer. He argued that the current administration has introduced a more transparent system for such allocations, with approvals now requiring endorsement by a competent committee.
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Karnataka HM G Parameshwara blames EVM for Cong debacle in Maharashtra, backs ballot papers
BENGALURU: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara on Monday alleged Electronic Voting Machine manipulations led to the defeat of Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in just concluded assembly polls in Maharashtra.
While speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said the BJP does selective manipulations to convince people that there were no wrongdoings. He also wanted to go back to the paper ballots system.
The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra won a landslide victory in the assembly elections, shattering the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi's dream to wrest power. The BJP won the highest ever 132 seats for the party, while the Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged 57 seats and NCP won 41 seats to take the Mahayuti total to 230 seats. Congress as part of MVA won just 16 seats.
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"We analysed the Maharashtra poll outcome deeply. We felt that in many places EVMs were manipulated," Parameshwara said. He also said an obvious question would be why not it happened in Jharkhand and elsewhere. The manipulations are done selectively so that no one can question it, he blamed.
According to him, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is a leading partner. Had the Congress been the leading partner, things would have changed. He backed the ballot papers saying that the same was discussed in Maharashtra Congress as well.
