JD(S), Cong get into tug-of-war for minority friendly tag

March 4, 2013

Mangalore, Mar 4: The JD(S) has pointed fingers at the Congress of not being bothered of the minorities. Substantiating this, JD(S) leader Sushil Noronha has said that the way the national party has gone about distributing tickets itself speaks eloquently of the same.

Addressing media persons at a news conference in Mangalore on Monday, Mr. Noronha said that Congress leaders have been trying to bag minority votes by threatening them of the BJP regaining power. But the fact is that the Congress has no concern for the minorities.

“From JD(S), 48 candidates are contesting the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) elections, of which 19 are from minority communities. We have fielded 10 Muslim and 9 Christian candidates. The Congress on the other hand has fielded 10 Muslim candidates and 5 Christian candidates out of the 60 candidates it has fielded in all wards. This shows to what extent they are bothered about the minorities”, Mr. Noronha said.

D M Aslam, President, JD(S) District Minority Wing, accused the Congress leaders of indulging into “cheap” and “needless” campaigning against the JD(S).

Senior Congress leaders like Janardhana Poojary are asking voters in different wards to refrain from voting for the JD(S). Let them project their manifesto and plans and ask votes on the basis of those. Why are they going on a propaganda spree against us? The Congress is accusing us of partnering with the BJP. But it was they who partnered the BJP in the last term by having their Mayor in a BJP ruled council. We have no understandings with anyone. Both Congress and BJP are our opponents”, Mr. Aslam said.

Terming Mr. Poojary's 'Padayatra' campaign in Kudroli ward as an 'election gimmick', Azeez Kudroli, former Councilor from the ward, said that the Congress is aware of BJP's minimal chances in the region and hence is resorting to maligning the JD(S).

“Congress knows that the contest in Kudroli is between us and them. The works I have carried out in my ward are there before my people to see. Mr. Poojary's gimmicks will not work in my ward”, Mr. Kudroli said.

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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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