Governor’s order gives justice to BJP fight against MUDA scam, says Karnataka Assembly LOP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka called the Saturday morning order by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s permitting the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the CM’s alleged involvement in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam an act of justice for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Opposition party, with the JD(S), had been protesting against the CM and also undertaken a week-long rally in Mysuru. The ally parties, who are accusing the CM and his wife Parvathi of having been allotted site by MUDA illegally, are demanding that he face interrogation and also resign for the ‘deceit’. Their ‘padayatra’ in Mysuru, however, failed to attract a large number of people and was considered by analysts as a failure.
Addressing reporters in the city on Saturday morning, Ashoka clarified that the BJP was fighting against corruption and not a person. Unveiling the truth is the primary focus of the party, he said. As more than 86,000 people have applied for sites under the MUDA, the BJP is also demanding prevention of any delay in the investigation into this case, he added.
ALSO READ: Governor permission to prosecute CM is 'unconstitutional', 'undemocratic': Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
The LOP said that CM Siddaramaiah had failed to give a clear, acceptable explanation on MUDA granting him the sites. Instead of handling the facing the investigation of a major scam like this, he is attempting to escape facing the law, which has only intensified the suspicion regarding his involvement in the case, Ashoka added.
The BJP senior leader opined that opposition by Congress leaders to the Governor’s order would yield no results in Siddaramaiah’s favour. He urged the CM to resign from his post, submit himself to a CBI investigation and return all the sites he was allotted by MUDA to prevent further clash and ensure justice to people who were deprived of land.
He recollected former CM BS Yediyurappa facing a similar order issued by then Governor. Ashoka asked sharply if the Congress members would agree if the BJP accused the former Governor of having done so on being asked by then Congress leaders. Further, stating that Yediyurappa had respected the order of the Governor and had resigned from the post of CM to face investigation, Ashoka asked Siddaramaiah too to do so. A protest against the Governor would be an insult to the Constitution, he stated.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
SC asks states to treat rising child trafficking cases as grave; seeks coordinated action
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has voiced grave concern over rising cases of child trafficking, saying gangs are operating across the country and if States and Union territories do not take immediate action, thing will go beyond control.
The court said only the state government and its home department can act vigilantly in this regard.
“As a court we can monitor, but ultimately the action has to be on the part of the state government, the police, and other agencies. Therefore, this is our humble request”, a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan said during the hearing of a plea on Wednesday.
The bench was irked over the "lackadaisical" approach of several states and UTs in implementing a 2025 judgment aimed at dismantling organised trafficking networks.
Justice Viswanathan said the retrieval of children in some cases proves the problem can be tackled, but it requires a level of political and administrative will which is lacking at present.
The verdict, delivered on April 15, 2025, had mandated several institutional reforms, including completion of trials in trafficking cases within six months on a day-to-day basis.
It had also directed strengthening of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and improving investigation standards.
Besides asking for setting up of state-level committees to monitor vulnerable trafficking hotspots, it had asked the authorities to treat missing children cases as trafficking unless proven otherwise.
Earlier, the bench had termed the compliance reports filed by a few states as "nothing but an eye wash."
On Wednesday, the bench noted that Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Punjab had still failed to file reports in the prescribed format.
When the home secretary of Madhya Pradesh offered an apology for the lapse, the bench granted a "final opportunity" but warned that continued failure would lead to states being officially branded as "defaulting".
The bench noted that at least 15 states are yet to constitute review committees mandated to identify and monitor trafficking-prone areas.
The matter will now be heard on April 29.
