Communal forces will be dealt with iron hand: CM

Bangalore, Jan 31: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said communal forces in the State were trying to incite trouble for political gains ahead of the Lok?Sabha elections, but the government would deal with such elements with an iron hand.

Replying to a discussion on the motion of thanks to the governor's address in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah said the government would not tolerate any attempt to disrupt communal harmony in the State. Be it Bajrang Dal, Sri Rama Sene or the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, none would be spared. No group would be allowed to do moral policing, he warned.

Turning the tables on the BJP,?which had blamed the government for the recent communal flare-up in Chikmagalur, Siddaramaiah said police investigation had revealed that it was one Rajashekar who had tried to incite communal tension by hiring a person to throw pork in front of a dargah in the town. Rajashekar's wife was a BJP?counsellor in Chikmagalur municipality, Siddaramaiah said. But the BJP members insisted that he take action against SIMI and other such groups.

Later in the day, C?T?Ravi, BJP MLA from Chikmagalur, said a false case had been booked against Rajashekar who is the general secretary of the BJP in the district. Some unrelated case is linked to the communal tension. The matter is pending before court and the chief minister should not have mentioned the name, he said. Siddaramaiah was not present in the House.

Siddaramaiah, who also dealt at length with the State finances in his reply, expressed confidence that the revenue target of Rs 42,947 crore for the four resource-mobilising departments of commercial taxes, excise, stamps and registration and transport for the financial year 2013-14 would be met.

He said several schemes announced by the government, including the Anna Bhagya scheme, subsidy for dairy farmers and loan waiver for SC/STs had increased the subsidy burden to Rs 6,589 crore, an additional Rs 2,200 crore compared with the previous fiscal. The subsidy component would increase the net fiscal, as the Anna Bhagya scheme alone would require Rs 4,500 crore. However, developmental programmes will not be derailed, he claimed.

He accused the Opposition of misinterpreting his comments at a recent meeting that officials should gear up as an admission that administrative machinery had failed. He had to speak firmly to speed up administration, he said adding that letters had been written to officials and ministers to make themselves available to legislators.

Siddaramaiah charged the BJP?with indulging in false campaign on the areca nut issue for electoral gains. He reiterated that there was no move to ban areca nut cultivation or use.Following his reply, the BJP?members staged a walkout.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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