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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Fire at mass marriage event attended by Dy CM Shivakumar, nobody affected
Raichur (Karnataka) (PTI): Fire broke out near the stage of the mass marriage event that was attended by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar here, police said on Sunday.
Nobody was affected, and the fire was immediately put out, they said.
The fire was noticed shortly after Shivakumar and other dignitaries left the stage, and Forest Minister Eshwaran Khandre was speaking to the media at the venue in Sindhanur, officials said.
According to officials, wires, speakers, and cloth materials near the stage caught fire, allegedly due to a short circuit.
Police personnel present at the spot quickly swung into action and extinguished the fire.
The programme was halted for some time and resumed later, they said.
Several ministers, legislators and political leaders from the region, and actor Sudeep had attended the event.
