Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has sought an explanation from the Congress government over the grant of a Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) site to a trust run by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s family and headed by his son Rahul, in March 2024, based on petitions by the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Chalavadi T Narayanaswamy and other BJP leaders.
Mallikarjun Kharge’s other son and Karnataka IT/BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge told reporters Monday that the Governor has written to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, seeking explanation on the land allotted to Siddhartha Vihar Trust.
Priyank is a trustee in the Trust that was allotted the 5 acres at the Hitech Defence Aerospace Park near Bengaluru. Formed in July 1994, its other trustees include Rahul Kharge and Kharge’s son-in-law and Gulbarga MP Radhakrishna.
This comes after the Governor granted prosecution sanction against CM Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA land allocation scam. The Karnataka HC Monday extended till September 9 the interim stay on trial court proceedings against the CM in connection with the case. On August 19, the CM moved to HC challenging the legality of the Governor’s order.
Hitting out at Gehlot, Priyank Kharge said that Gehlot has acted in “lightning speed” on complaints against Congress leaders, but with “tortoise speed” on ones against BJP and JD(S) leaders. “The Governor’s office becomes active when BJP has to be strengthened…” Kharge said, adding that despite documents against BJP and JD(S) “rotting” on his table, he has not taken action.
Narayanaswamy on August 27 petitioned the Governor seeking the dismissal of Priyank Kharge from Cabinet over the alleged allotment. Alleging “nepotism”, he said it is a case of criminal breach of trust from the Kharge family towards the fellow Schedule Caste entrepreneurs.
On August 27, Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil had confirmed the allocation to the Siddhartha Vihara Trust, adding that no rules were violated, with the site given “at prescribed price, with no discounts.” The 5-acre parcel was part of 45.94 acres set aside for setting up civic amenities at the aerospace park, to be allocated under the Scheduled Caste quota.
Earlier in a post on X, Priyank Kharge denied the allegations and said that the site allotted was not “an industrial plot meant for industrial or commercial purposes” but for “educational purposes.” “The intention of the trust is to set up a multi skill development centre in the CA site. Is it wrong?”
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya first raised the allegations over the allocation in a post, quoting a report from a news website.
With PTI inputs
Click here to join The Indian Express on WhatsApp and get latest news and updates
