MUDA land ''scam'': Home Minister G Parameshwara says no "cover up", rules out SIT probe
Bengaluru, Jul 8: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday rubbished allegations that the government was trying to cover up the alleged fraudulent allotment of compensatory sites to land losers, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi, by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Ruling out a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged scam, he noted that the Chief Minister has already clarified on the matter.
"We will not cover up anything, ours (government) is like an open book. There is no need to cover up anything in it. The Chief Minister has clarified, we need not speak about it repeatedly," Parameshwara said in response to a question on whether the government is conspiring to cover up the scam.
Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy last week took an indirect swipe at Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar stating that the MUDA site allotment scam was exposed by a "person who is eyeing the Chief minister's post".
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Reacting to this, Parameshwara said: "Regarding what Kumaraswamy has said, I don't have any information."
Asked if the government will form an SIT to probe the case, he said, "No. There is no need for it. The Chief Minister has given the clarification. What is the need to inquire?".
The BJP has alleged that compensatory sites were also allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA, and sought his resignation.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.
The controversial scheme envisages allotting 50 per cent of developed land to the land loser in lieu of undeveloped land acquired for forming layouts.
The BJP has alleged that irregularities to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore had taken place in distribution of sites to land losers by MUDA.
Karnataka Urban Development Minister B S Suresha (Byrathi Suresha) has ordered a probe by a four-member committee.
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Kumaraswamy slams Siddaramaiah for accusing Oppn of targeting his wife in MUDA case
Bengaluru (PTI): JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday hit out at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for accusing the opposition of dragging his wife in the MUDA case and blamed the latter's 'wrongs' for the woes.
The Union Minister also challenged Siddaramaiah for a debate on the Congress government's achievements and developmental activities so far.
"Time and again you (Siddaramaiah) say the opposition is jealous and you are accusing the opposition of dragging your wife (into the MUDA case). You have brought your wife, who was respectfully at home, out (in this case). It is not done by us, the opposition. You have brought her out because of wrongs you have committed (in her name)," Kumaraswamy said.
Addressing reporters here, he said, "repeatedly you (Siddaramaiah) speak about AHINDA, what have you done for AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits)? Haven't we seen what has happened in Valmiki Corporation (scam), the loot that has happened."
Pointing to CM's emotional appeal to people if they would forgive the opposition for targeting his wife over the MUDA 'scam', Kumaraswamy said, "Whether people will forgive or accept us, they will decide later. Let him ask the people what they will do to him (Siddaramaiah) for this kind of governance..."
Siddaramaiah had on Saturday come down heavily on the opposition BJP and the JD(S) for dragging his wife Parvathi B M in the MUDA case, who had never stepped into public life and was confined to her house.
He also charged the opposition with targeting him because they could not tolerate a person from a backward community in the Chief Minister’s post.
Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
His wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others are named as other accused in the case.
Alleging that the Congress government is entangled in scams, Kumaraswamy said, "No ministers including the Chief Minister have any concern for the troubles faced by the people... they speak about development, only god should save us."
He challenged Siddaramaiah for a discussion on achievements and development work of the current Congress government led by him, with that of his (Kumaraswamy) 14 months JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2018-19.
Claiming that he had to function as CM without proper cooperation from the Congress during the coalition government, Kumaraswamy said, "JD(S) had only 38 MLAs then... what all you (Siddaramaiah/Congress) did then? Today you are saying Kumaraswamy didn't work for 14 months."
Citing rain-related issues reported in the last couple of days in parts of the city, Kumaraswamy said, "A deadline was set to fill potholes... we are seeing the quality of the work that was done, following this rains."
Not only in Bengaluru, in several parts of the state the post monsoon rains are more than expected, leading to damage of crops and people facing trouble, he said, while accusing the government of 'failing' to address the issues
