Brinda Karat calls Cong, BJP 'real estate agents, flays their pro-capitalist face

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)

May 1, 2013

Mangalore, May 1: Snubbing the pro-capitalist face of the two national parties, the Congress and the BJP, CPI(M) Politburo Member Brinda Karat has said that the two stage 'Shadow boxing' because when it comes to appeasing the capitalists and corporate powers, both parties share similar interests.

She was speaking at a public programme, campaigning for Vasanth Achari, CPI(M)'s candidate for Mangalore (South) constituency, in Mangalore on Wednesday.

Referring to the Congress and the BJP as “real estate agents” who snatch lands from farmers, Ms. Karat said that both parties have soft corner towards the corporate lobby and are least concerned about the poor.

“It is the tragedy of Indian politics that both these national parties represent the same interests. Look at the list of the people that they have given tickets too. You will see that majority of them are people who are part of the real estate mafia. The CPI(M) on the other hand believes in the politics of the labour class and the poor. Our candidates are people who strive for the betterment of the poor 365 days a year. We have been given power by the people in Tripura, which is headed by Manik Sarkar, the poorest chief minister in the country who does not have anything in his bank account,” Ms. Karat said.

Although the nation is in severe crisis over a range of issues, the Congress and the BJP are busy trading needless allegations, Ms. Karat said.

'RSS is Rashtriya Sarvanash Samithi'

Coming down hard on the repeated instances of moral policing in coastal Karnataka, Ms. Karat said that the RSS and its offshoot organizations have no right to decide what is good or bad for people.

“RSS is a destructive and venomous force. Patriotism must be based on unity but RSS' patriotism is based on division. The Sangh Parivar and the BJP not only oppose Muslims but are forces who believe in caste based politics. When youth were attacked here by them, our party workers vehemently opposed while the Congress kept mum. Raising our voice against such attacks is not just our duty but a matter of our party's principle”, the veteran Communist leader said.

CPI(M) leaders B Madhava, Sunil Kumar Bajal, Vasanth Achari were present.

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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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