Explained — Row Over 5-Acre Plot Allotted To Mallikarjun Kharge Family Trust As BJP Cries Foul

The land, allocated in March 2024 by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), is overseen by Mallikarjun Kharge's son, Rahul Kharge, who chairs the Siddhartha Vihara Trust.

A controversy has erupted in Karnataka over the allocation of five acres of land at an aerospace park near Bengaluru to a trust managed by the family of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. As a first to question the allotment, BJP MP Lahar Singh Siroya enquired on the Kharge family’s eligibility for the land, suggesting a conflict of interest and alleged misuse of power.

According to Siroya, the Siddhartha Vihara Trust was granted five acres of land intended for civic amenities under the SC quota at the Hitech Defence Aerospace Park, out of a total of 45.94 acres. This allocation has raised eyebrows, especially in light of ongoing scrutiny over land allotments in the state.

The controversy

Amid the controversies surrounding Congress-led government in Karnataka, a new row has emerged in Karnataka following the approval of five acres of land at an aerospace park near Bengaluru to a trust managed by the family of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The land, allocated in March 2024 by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), is overseen by Kharge's son, Rahul Kharge, who chairs the Siddhartha Vihara Trust. The BJP has sharply criticised the allocation, accusing the Congress government of "misuse of power" and "nepotism."

The issue was first raised by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya, who questioned the legitimacy of the Kharge family’s eligibility for the land. He expressed concerns over potential misuse of power and conflict of interest in the allocation. "When did the Kharge family become aerospace entrepreneurs to be eligible for KIADB land? Is this about misuse of power, nepotism, and conflict of interest?" Siroya asked.

 

Defending the move, Priyank Kharge said, "Firstly, the site allotted is NOT an industrial plot meant for industrial or commercial purposes. It is for educational purposes. The intention of the trust is to set up a multi skill development center in the CA site. Is it wrong? KIADB has not provided any subsidy to the trust for the CA site or reduced the cost of the site or provided any relaxation of payment terms."

Further, he said that there was no subsidy or subsidised rates for civic amenity plots allotted to SC/ST organisations.

"Would like to hear from you on how your Government gave away lands across the state to RSS backed Rashtrothana and Chanakya University? Why was your tongue tied then?" he asked.

Following this, the BJP claimed that prime land meant for SC community development has been improperly allocated to the Kharge family's trust. In response, Karnataka Minister MB Patil defended the decision, stating that the land was allocated at the standard price and dismissing the BJP's accusations as politically motivated.

Congress-BJP Spar Over Land Allotment Row

The controversy has intensified the political battle between the BJP and Congress with BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accusing the Kharge family of benefiting from insider advantages. "After the MUDA scam that took place in Karnataka, in yet another khata-khat loot model which involves this time not the Siddaramaiah family but the Kharge family, 5 acres of prime land, from 45.94 acres, which was meant to be given to the SC community for development of civic amenities at the high-tech defence aerospace park in Bengaluru have been handed over by the KIADB, to the family-run trust of Mr Kharge, and many questions are arising, this trust has Mr Kharge himself (Priyank Kharge) and all the other members of the family, and is headed by Mr Kharge's another son Rahul Kharge. The question is, is this not misuse of power, conflict of interest, nepotism, openly?" alleged BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawall.

Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra also weighed in, questioning the transparency of the process. "The plot allocated to the Kharge family’s trust is extremely valuable, located next to Bengaluru International Airport. Why was this trust chosen? Were there other applicants? No rules seem to have been followed," Vijayendra alleged.

In response, Karnataka Minister MB Patil defended the allocation, dismissing the BJP's accusations as politically motivated. He explained that the Siddhartha Educational Trust, headed by Rahul Kharge, had applied for the land to establish an R&D and training center.

"What is wrong?... There is no incentive and no concession. It has been allocated at the price prescribed for everyone which was fixed by the 2021 BJP government. So what is the fault?... They (BJP) are doing politics," he said.

The controversy comes at a time when the Congress government in Karnataka, led by CM Siddaramaiah, is already under fire for alleged irregularities in land allotments, including those involving his own family. As political tensions escalate, the allocation of land to the Kharge family trust is likely to remain a contentious issue in the state.