MUDA 'Scam': Siddaramaiah Alleges Conspiracy, Says 'Targeted Due To Backward Background'

Siddaramaiah emphasised that he was being unfairly targeted due to his status as a leader from a backward class who has ascended to the chief minister's office for a second term.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly refuted allegations of involvement in the purported fraudulent allotment of sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) on Thursday. He asserted that the accusations were politically motivated and aimed at undermining his position.

Addressing the media, Siddaramaiah emphasised that he was being unfairly targeted due to his status as a leader from a backward class who has ascended to the chief minister's office for a second term. He confidently stated that he would not be intimidated by such conspiracies.

The Chief Minister's comments came in response to BJP state president B Y Vijayendra's announcement of a "mega" protest in Mysuru on July 12. The protest has been intended to spotlight the alleged "scam" involving compensatory sites allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in a high-value area of Mysuru, as opposed to the location of her original land acquired by MUDA.

"Haven't we given it (MUDA scam) for a probe.....BJP is doing things for politics, we will have to do politics if they do politics. Let them do it (protest) under anyone's leadership, let them do it under J P Nadda (BJP national president) leadership. If they do it, we will also do it politically. Can only they do politics? We also know how to counter it politically," Siddaramaiah remarked, as per a report on PTI.

When questioned about the BJP's focus on the land allotment to his wife, Siddaramaiah challenged the legality of the allegations. They have to say where it is illegal. We are saying that things are legal. Let them show that it is illegal," he maintained.  

Alleging that he was being targeted purely for political purposes as they have found nothing substantial against him, he said that the fact that a leader from a backward class has become chief minister again seems to cause discomfort for others leading to such conspiracies. "Will I fear these conspiracies? Certainly not," he affirmed.

The allegations suggest that Siddaramaiah's wife was allocated sites in an upscale Mysuru area with higher property values compared to her original land location acquired by MUDA. However, the Chief Minister reiterated that all processes were lawful and transparent.