ED action in MUDA scam: BJP demands Siddaramaiah to step down
Bengaluru: The BJP on Saturday demanded that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah step down immediately in the backdrop of the ED attaching 142 MUDA units of immovable assets.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday provisionally attached 142 immovable properties, with a market value of about Rs 300 crore, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a case involving Siddaramaiah and others.
The ED stated that the attached properties are registered under the names of various individuals working as real estate businessmen and agents.
"If CM @siddaramaiah values the integrity of his office, he must step down immediately and allow an impartial probe to proceed. The people of Karnataka deserve transparency, accountability, and justice," BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said in a post on 'X'.
The Shikaripura MLA described the development as a significant victory in the fight against the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam.
Explaining the MUDA scam, the ED alleged, "Siddaramaiah used his political influence to secure compensation of 14 sites (plots) in his wife B M Parvathi's name in exchange for 3 acres and 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA. The land was originally acquired by MUDA for Rs 3,24,700, while the compensation—14 sites in a posh locality—is worth approximately Rs 56 crore."
The ED added that former MUDA commissioner D B Natesh played a key role in the illegal allotment of compensation sites to Parvathi.
Vijayendra claimed that the ED's investigation had exposed significant corruption, with Siddaramaiah allegedly misusing his political influence to allocate sites illegally in his wife's name.
"The allocation of sites to 'benamis' and proxies of influential individuals further highlights systemic corruption," he alleged.
When Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot sanctioned Siddaramaiah's prosecution, "the Congress spared no effort in insulting and undermining the constitutional authority of the Governor," Vijayendra added.
He pointed out that the Karnataka High Court upheld the Governor's decision, emphasizing that allegations against the Chief Minister's family warranted deeper investigation.
Hailing the ED, Vijayendra said the investigation agency "thwarted any malicious attempt by CM Siddaramaiah to subvert the investigation by misusing government machinery."
The BJP leader added that the saffron party and its ally JD(S) have consistently protested, both within and outside the Assembly, against "this blatant misuse of power by the CM and his associates."
"The ED's findings validate our persistent fight against corruption and reveal that there is more to this than meets the eye. This is also a slap on those who derided our anti-corruption campaign," Vijayendra said.
According to him, the ED's revelations represent only the tip of the iceberg.
Vijayendra stated that thousands of crores of public money had been misappropriated in the scam and called for a comprehensive CBI investigation to uncover the full extent of the scandal.
There was no immediate response from the Chief Minister, but his deputy, D K Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, dismissed the BJP's demand.
"There is no need for anyone's resignation or politics. No resignation will be tendered, nor is there any reason to consider it. Let them first address their scams," Shivakumar told reporters.
Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge challenged the BJP to investigate all wrongdoings in Urban Development Authorities over the past 10 to 15 years.
He warned the BJP that digging deeper into these scams might lead to their humiliation.
"We are saying, let them use Income Tax, ED, or any investigative agency. We are also asking them to look into whatever happened in the past 10 to 15 years in all the Urban Development Authorities," Kharge said.
According to him, all actions related to MUDA were conducted as per the law. If there was anything illegal, BJP and JD(S) leaders would also bear responsibility, as they were members of the MUDA Board.
Kharge added, "The Chief Minister has already stated that the party will neither obstruct nor fear any investigation. Send your complaints to whoever you want—CBI, ED, I-T, or the Governor's office. We have no problem."
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BJP vows to return to power in 2028 in Karnataka, attacks Cong at executive committee meet
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP leaders on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Karnataka and exuded confidence that the party would return to power in the 2028 Assembly elections.
The opposition party in Karnataka also passed four resolutions at its state executive committee meeting at the Palace Grounds here. It includes rampant corruption in the state, misuse of government funds, growing drug menace, agrarian problem and the garbage crisis in Bengaluru.
The party also hailed the Centre for introducing Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The executive committee welcomed the Centre's decision to give respect to 'Vande Mataram' song.
Addressing the meeting, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra alleged there was "zero development" in the state and claimed discontent within the ruling party.
"Let us work day and night to restore the BJP’s past glory in Karnataka," Vijayendra said, adding, "A situation has arisen where even MLAs of the ruling party may revolt against the government."
He alleged that law and order had completely deteriorated under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state and referred to murders in Surathkal and Yellapur, claiming no compensation had been provided to the families of a Dalit woman in Yellapur and a Dalit man in Koppal.
He further alleged that Mysuru had become a narcotics hub and recalled the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl during Dasara in the Chief Minister’s home district.
Vijayendra urged party workers to gear up for a series of upcoming elections, including local body polls, GBA elections and Assembly bypolls, and called for grassroots mobilisation to highlight the failures of the Congress government.
Inaugurating the meeting, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "This is not merely an organisational meeting but a meeting for introspection."
He described it as a gathering to strengthen the organisation and resolve to remove the corrupt government from power.
Expressing confidence about the party’s prospects, he said the BJP would form the government in Karnataka in 2028 with an overwhelming majority.
He criticised the Congress for the Emergency and alleged that the state had become "corrupt and financially bankrupt", referring to scandals, including MUDA. He also claimed there had been infighting over the Chief Minister’s post from the beginning and that public debt had risen sharply.
BJP National General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal said the party's victory in the 2028 Assembly elections was certain and objected to alleged attempts to curb RSS activities in the state.
He accused the government of favouring minorities over Scheduled Castes and termed it a "corrupt government".
Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was felicitated for completing 50 years in active politics, called upon party workers to resolve to bring the BJP back to power "on our own strength" and to "uproot the corrupt Congress government".
Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said it was Yediyurappa who had brought the BJP to power in Karnataka for the first time in South India and praised his role in strengthening the party.
Several senior leaders, including Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karandlaje and V Somanna, and other state leaders were present at the meeting.
