NEW DELHI: A war of words has erupted between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following Karnataka governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision on Saturday to allow the prosecution of chief minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Following the governor’s decision, several Karnataka ministers, including deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Priyanka Kharge, came to CM Siddaramaiah’s defence.
Amidst the controversy, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge travelled to Karnataka.
Earlier this month, Siddaramaiah maintained that everything was done according to the law and refuted the allegations, saying, “In the case of MUDA, everything was done according to law. I have not exerted any kind of influence on the allotment of the plot. My wife has been given a replacement plot in 2021 during the government period of the BJP government as per the law.”
The Karnataka government challenged the governor’s decision and said they would approach the high court against the governor’s permission for prosecution.
In response to the Karnataka governor’s decision, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday afternoon said, “The entire Cabinet, party high command, all MLAs, MLCs, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs are with me.”
In a press conference, Shivakumar defended CM Siddaramaiah, saying, “On August 1, we held a cabinet meeting and demanded the governor to withdraw the decision. We also told him that the complaint has no merit and democracy must be saved by dismissing the complaint.”
He further asserted that the party, high command and the entire state stand with Siddaramaiah, saying, “We will fight it legally and we will fight it politically as well. Whatever notice and sanction has been given is against the law. We have made all our preparations to fight it legally, this is nothing but a clear conspiracy against backwards-class CM Siddaramaiah who is running the government for the second time.”
Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge also backed Siddaramaiah, alleging that the Karnataka governor’s decision was orchestrated by the Central government.
In a post on X, he said, “The Karnataka governor’s decision to sanction the prosecution of CM @siddaramaiah in the MUDA case has been orchestrated by the central government.”
He further added, “Raj Bhavan is being misused as the BJP’s tool to undermine a democratically elected government. The Constitutional head of the State is sparking a constitutional crisis to appease his political masters.”
Kharge emphasised, “The Central government may throw its full weight behind this, but we stand firm with the Constitution on our side.”
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has accused the governor’s office of being misused to undermine an honest and genuine leader from the OBC community.
He said, “Despite relentless attempts to undermine a genuine OBC leader, the will of the people will prevail. Misusing the governor’s office to defame an honest CM shows the desperation of those who can’t tolerate true leadership. The people will see through these tactics and Sangi uncles.”
Following the governor’s order, CM Siddaramaiah faced criticism from BJP leaders, including MP Tejasvi Surya, who stressed that the CM “must resign to make way for an impartial investigation.”
He said, “The honourable governor of Karnataka has sanctioned protection against CM Siddaramaiah regarding the serious allegations he is facing in the MUDA scam. This is a very significant development. The nature of the allegations is very serious.”
“The investigating agencies will now have to start the process of prosecution. Needless to say, one cannot expect the CM to continue in office while agencies reporting to him, are investigating charges against him. So the principles of natural justice and principles of morality demand that CM Siddaramaiah must resign and make way for impartial investigation,” he added.
BY Vijayendra, the state BJP President, defended the governor’s move, saying that the governor has exercised his constitutional powers.
In a post on X, he said, “The Hon’ble Governor has exercised his constitutional powers and allowed legal action to be taken against the chief minister’s Muda scam complaint.”
Moreover, BJP MP Sambit Patra criticised Siddaramaiah, who will now face prosecution in the alleged MUDA scam, saying, “The INDI alliance governments and its leaders are disrespecting the Constitution can be seen in West Bengal and even in Karnataka. The Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot has granted permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah. MUDA land scam was exposed a few days ago. People of civil society had submitted a petition to the Governor demanding permission to prosecute the CM. The Governor had first sought information from the Government but when he was not convinced by their facts and arguments, he has granted permission. 14 lands in the upmarket area of Mysuru were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife. The whole corruption goes up to Rs 4000 crores.”
Patra further questioned, “Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has reached Bengaluru amid slogans being raised against the Governor. I want to ask him, you have reached Bengaluru to protect the corrupt, but will you go to Kolkata? Will Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi go to Kolkata?”
Amidst the controversy, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge travelled to Karnataka.
Earlier this month, Siddaramaiah maintained that everything was done according to the law and refuted the allegations, saying, “In the case of MUDA, everything was done according to law. I have not exerted any kind of influence on the allotment of the plot. My wife has been given a replacement plot in 2021 during the government period of the BJP government as per the law.”
The Karnataka government challenged the governor’s decision and said they would approach the high court against the governor’s permission for prosecution.
In response to the Karnataka governor’s decision, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday afternoon said, “The entire Cabinet, party high command, all MLAs, MLCs, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs are with me.”
In a press conference, Shivakumar defended CM Siddaramaiah, saying, “On August 1, we held a cabinet meeting and demanded the governor to withdraw the decision. We also told him that the complaint has no merit and democracy must be saved by dismissing the complaint.”
He further asserted that the party, high command and the entire state stand with Siddaramaiah, saying, “We will fight it legally and we will fight it politically as well. Whatever notice and sanction has been given is against the law. We have made all our preparations to fight it legally, this is nothing but a clear conspiracy against backwards-class CM Siddaramaiah who is running the government for the second time.”
Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge also backed Siddaramaiah, alleging that the Karnataka governor’s decision was orchestrated by the Central government.
In a post on X, he said, “The Karnataka governor’s decision to sanction the prosecution of CM @siddaramaiah in the MUDA case has been orchestrated by the central government.”
He further added, “Raj Bhavan is being misused as the BJP’s tool to undermine a democratically elected government. The Constitutional head of the State is sparking a constitutional crisis to appease his political masters.”
Kharge emphasised, “The Central government may throw its full weight behind this, but we stand firm with the Constitution on our side.”
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has accused the governor’s office of being misused to undermine an honest and genuine leader from the OBC community.
He said, “Despite relentless attempts to undermine a genuine OBC leader, the will of the people will prevail. Misusing the governor’s office to defame an honest CM shows the desperation of those who can’t tolerate true leadership. The people will see through these tactics and Sangi uncles.”
Following the governor’s order, CM Siddaramaiah faced criticism from BJP leaders, including MP Tejasvi Surya, who stressed that the CM “must resign to make way for an impartial investigation.”
He said, “The honourable governor of Karnataka has sanctioned protection against CM Siddaramaiah regarding the serious allegations he is facing in the MUDA scam. This is a very significant development. The nature of the allegations is very serious.”
“The investigating agencies will now have to start the process of prosecution. Needless to say, one cannot expect the CM to continue in office while agencies reporting to him, are investigating charges against him. So the principles of natural justice and principles of morality demand that CM Siddaramaiah must resign and make way for impartial investigation,” he added.
BY Vijayendra, the state BJP President, defended the governor’s move, saying that the governor has exercised his constitutional powers.
In a post on X, he said, “The Hon’ble Governor has exercised his constitutional powers and allowed legal action to be taken against the chief minister’s Muda scam complaint.”
Moreover, BJP MP Sambit Patra criticised Siddaramaiah, who will now face prosecution in the alleged MUDA scam, saying, “The INDI alliance governments and its leaders are disrespecting the Constitution can be seen in West Bengal and even in Karnataka. The Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot has granted permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah. MUDA land scam was exposed a few days ago. People of civil society had submitted a petition to the Governor demanding permission to prosecute the CM. The Governor had first sought information from the Government but when he was not convinced by their facts and arguments, he has granted permission. 14 lands in the upmarket area of Mysuru were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife. The whole corruption goes up to Rs 4000 crores.”
Patra further questioned, “Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has reached Bengaluru amid slogans being raised against the Governor. I want to ask him, you have reached Bengaluru to protect the corrupt, but will you go to Kolkata? Will Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi go to Kolkata?”