The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a massive protest on Monday against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government over alleged scams in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), Waqf board and the Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Demanding the Chief Minister's resignation, BJP leader CT Ravi said Siddaramaiah must step down for any fair probe into the allegations of irregularities.
Speaking to the news agency PTI, Ravi said, "There is not only a scam in the WAQF board but also in the labour department. Congress is in power only to loot people."
"They (Congress) have looted Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Congress has used this money for election purposes. It is our duty to serve justice to the Dalits. They have looted the money of Dalits. We cannot stay silent anymore. The prices of milk, petrol and every other thing have increased," he told news agency ANI.
Karnataka Govt Orders Inquiry Into MUDA scam
Replying to the allegation, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge said that an SIT had been formed to probe the MUDA case and that everyone should wait for the report.
"The CM and the minister have clearly said that the officials have mishandled these accounts. We have also formed a single judge bench for the MUDA issue, so whatever concern BJP has, it should raise it in the assembly with documents," he said.
The Karnataka government on Sunday ordered the formation of an inquiry commission into the alleged alternative site scam in the MUDA. According to the order, High Court judge (retd) Justice P N Desai will head the single-member commission. The commission will be required to complete the inquiry and submit its report to the state government within six months.
The departments concerned and the MUDA officials will have to cooperate with the investigation by providing the necessary documents and information to Justice Desai, the order said.
The government passed the order late Sunday night ahead of the Legislature session, which started on Monday and will culminate on July 26.
Siddaramaiah Denies Allegations
The scam allegations gathered steam after the BJP said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi was one of the beneficiaries of alternative sites (plots).
Siddaramaiah categorically rejected the allegation and claimed that MUDA illegally took over the four acres of land belonging to his wife and formed a layout without her permission. The CM said MUDA compensated them by providing them with alternative plots.
The BJP has raised doubts about the claim saying how can MUDA touch such a high-profile property. The party has pegged the size of the scam somewhere around Rs 3,000 crore.