Karnataka Guv seeks explanation from Govt. over land allotted to trust run by Kharge family
Bengaluru, Sep 2: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has sought an explanation from the Congress government on a petition submitted to him by the BJP seeking the dismissal from the Cabinet of Minister Priyank Kharge over the alleged allotment of land to a trust run by his family including his father and Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge.
Priyank Kharge confirmed on Monday that the Governor has written to the Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh seeking explanation, as he hit out at Gehlot accusing him of acting with a "lightning speed" on complaints against Congress leaders, but with a "tortoise speed" on ones against BJP and JD(S) leaders.
"The (BJP's) complaint and he (Governor) writing back (to govt) seeking explanation, there is a lightning speed. It is not there in other things. On matters concerning BJP-JD(S) leaders' the speed is of tortoise. If it is Congress there will be a lighting speed," he told reporters here.
"The Governor's office becomes active when it is to build the BJP,...," Priyank Kharge alleged, adding, despite documents against BJP-JD(S) "rotting" on his table, he has not taken action.
ALSO READ: High Court adjourns CM Siddaramaiah's MUDA petition hearing to September 9
"He (Governor) has put some queries and sent them (complaints or petitions against BJP-JD(S) leaders) back, and is saying they are not before him. When (complaint or petition) goes to the Governor's office, it does not stand disposed until and unless the Governor disposes of it....you (Governor) have asked for clarification, the file is still pending, after clarification, you have to make a decision," he added.
Priyank Kharge is the Minister for Electronics, IT/BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.
Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi T Narayanaswamy on August 27 petitioned the Governor seeking the dismissal of Priyank Kharge from Cabinet over the alleged allotment.
Alleging "nepotism", he said that it is a case of criminal breach of trust from the Kharges towards the fellow Schedule Caste entrepreneurs.
"Siddhartha Vihar Trust is being reportedly allotted five acres of land under the SC Quota by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) in the Hitech Defence Aerospace Park near Bengaluru out of the 45.94 acres meant for civic amenities (CA) in March 2024," Narayanaswamy has said.
Interestingly, the trustees of the Trust include Mallikarjun Kharge, his wife Radhabai, Priyank Kharge, MP and son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani, and younger son Rahul Kharge, he further pointed out, questioning how did the Kharges become aerospace entrepreneurs? "How did the department give a nod for this allotment? Was the minister (Industries) compelled to allot the land by the Chief Minister?"
Priyank Kharge's reference to BJP-JD(S) leaders was in the context of pending requests seeking sanction for prosecution against JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, and against former BJP Ministers -- Shashikala Jolle, Murugesh Nirani, G Janardhan Reddy.
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.
Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
