Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 19 (ANI): Amid MUDA ‘scam’ allegations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has criticized Leader of the Opposition (LoP) R Ashoka for his comments comparing the current situation with former CM BS Yediyurappa’s resignation in 2011.
Siddaramaiah accused Ashoka of “demonstrating ignorance” by referencing Yediyurappa’s resignation, which followed an investigation report on illegal mining, not merely the Governor’s sanction for prosecution.
LoP R Ashoka had demanded CM Siddaramaiah’s resignation, comparing the situation to when BS Yediyurappa faced a similar investigation in 2011, based on a private complaint during his tenure.
“R. Ashok, the leader of the opposition, has once again demonstrated his ignorance by saying, “Did not BS Yeddyurappa resign as Chief Minister when Governor Hansaraja Bharadwaja gave permission for the prosecution? Why is Siddaramaiah not resigning now? R Ashoka BJP, check the facts and talk before making such a bigoted statement. On 21 January 2011, Governor Hansaraja Bharadwaja gave permission for prosecution in connection with the Rachenahalli denotification scam. There was also strong evidence of 1600 pages of documents produced by the petitioner against him. However, BSYBJP did not resign as Chief Minister. It was Ashok, it was you who questioned why Yediyurappa should resign,” CM Siddaramaiah posted on X.
He further clarified that Yediyurappa resigned after the Lokayukta submitted a report on illegal mining, not merely because of the Governor’s prosecution sanction.
“BS Yeddyurappa resigned as Chief Minister on August 4, 2011. That was after the Lokayukta headed by N Santosh Hegde submitted the investigation report on illegal mining to the state government and the governor. The Lokayukta’s inquiry report said that the state exchequer has lost Rs 16,500 crore due to illegal mining. R Ashoka, remember all the past, then you may remember what you all conspired against BSYBJP,” CM Siddaramaiah said.
“The Lokayukta headed by Justice Santosh Hegde, who investigated the Rachenahalli de-notification scam, which had been given permission for the prosecution by Governor Hansaraja Bharadwaja, had proved all the allegations and filed a charge sheet. Didn’t Lokayukta Santosh Hegde himself confirm that the Governor’s prosecution decision was fair? Governor Hansaraja Bharadwaja had given permission to investigate not one, not two, but fifteen denotification scams. For more information. Read Santosh Hegde’s investigation report on illegal mining,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that the BJP Karnataka leaders shedding tears today for Governor Thawarchand Gehlot seem to have forgotten all the 2011 disparagement of the then Governor Hansaraja Bhardwaja.
“The BJP leaders who are questioning the peaceful protest by our party workers have also forgotten that they had called a Karnataka Bandh in 2011 against the Governor’s move,” he said.
On sanction by the Karnataka Governor to prosecute the Karnataka CM, Congress leader KC Venugopal called it a “conspiracy” and said that Congress will fight the issue “legally and politically.”
“It is a clear conspiracy by BJP and JD(S) to destabilise the Siddaramaiah government. They want to tarnish his image. Congress will fight with this issue legally and politically,” Venugopal said.
Earlier in the day, CM Siddaramaiah moved High Court challenging the order issued by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to prosecute him in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam.
CM Siddaramaiah filed a writ petition requesting for cancellation of permission given to the prosecution. Justice Hemant Chandangoudar’s single-judge bench is scheduled to hear the plea at 2:30 pm today (Monday).
“Despite all the factual matters being brought to the notice of the Governor, he has proceeded to grant sanction on 16.08.2024, which was communicated to the Chief Secretary on 17.08.2024. The Petitioner submits that the sanction order was issued without due application of mind, in violation of statutory mandates, and contrary to constitutional principles, including the advice of the Council of Ministers, which is binding under Article 163 of the Constitution of India. The Governor’s decision is legally unsustainable, procedurally flawed, and motivated by extraneous considerations, and thus the Petitioner has preferred this Writ Petition seeking to quash the impugned order dated 16.08.2024 amongst other reliefs,” he said in a writ.
“Stay the operation of the impugned order dated 16.08.2024 passed the Governor of Karnataka, and forwarded by respondent no. 2 to the Petitioner on 17.08.2024 bearing No. GS 40 ADM 2024, granting prior approval and sanction against the petitioner, a copy of which is herein produced as ANNEXURE A.B. Pass such other orders as this Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity,” it added.
Congress leader Ramesh Babu wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, requesting her immediate intervention to direct the withdrawal of the prosecution sanction against the Chief Minister.
Karnataka Congress workers held a protest after the state Governor granted permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah in an alleged MUDA scam.
On the other hand, the BJP held a protest demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister over his alleged connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case.
Former Karnataka CM and BJP leader DV Sadananda Gowda said, “We have been doing it (protesting) for the last several days. The Governor has permitted prosecution. It is high time for the CM to step down.”
The MUDA scam surfaced after social activist Snehamayi Krishna filed a complaint against Siddaramaiah and nine others for allegedly forging documents to claim compensation from MUDA. (ANI)
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