Today(31st July), Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has requested a response from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about allegations related to site distributions by MUDA, including a site allegedly allocated to his wife, Parvathi. This follows a BJP memorandum calling for a CBI investigation and Siddaramaiah’s resignation.
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BENGALURU: Today(31st July), Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has called for a “response” from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding allegations concerning the distribution of sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which allegedly includes a site allocated to his wife, Parvathi. This request follows a memorandum submitted by BJP legislators seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter and demanding Siddaramaiah’s resignation.
BJP’s Memorandum and Governor’s Action
A delegation of BJP legislators met with Governor Gehlot on July 25, submitting a memorandum that called for the MUDA case to be handed over to the CBI for investigation. Following this, sources from the Congress government revealed that the Governor had requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to respond to the allegations.
“Given that a memorandum has been submitted, it is essential for the Governor to request a response from the Chief Minister. Consequently, the Governor has asked the Chief Minister to provide a reply.”
-sources in Raj Bhavan confirmed.
Home Minister G Parameshwara suggested that the Governor’s actions might be politically motivated.
“He (Gehlot) has been granted certain Constitutional powers and should operate within that framework. Crossing these boundaries raises doubts and suspicions of political motives.”
-Parameshwara stated during a press interaction in Bagalkote.
He added-
“The Governor’s decision to issue a show cause notice will be regarded as politically motivated.”
Priyank Kharge’s Accusations Against BJP
Karnataka’s Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister, Priyank Kharge, echoed similar sentiments, alleging that the Governor is being “misused” by the BJP.
“You have observed Governors in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal misusing their Constitutional positions. The Supreme Court has commented on this issue, and numerous articles have highlighted how some Governors are overstepping their bounds and interfering in government functions.”
– Kharge commented.
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Kharge further emphasized,-
“It seems that the same pattern is occurring here. We have already noted that the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate are being used, and it appears the BJP is also using Governors in this manner.”
suggesting a pattern of political interference by the BJP through constitutional offices.
Comparison with Ballari Mining Scam
Highlighting the contrast between past incidents and the current MUDA case, Kharge noted-
“He argues that it is unusual for the Governor to request an immediate response right after a memorandum is submitted. In the Ballari mining scam, there was substantial evidence prompting Governor action, but in the MUDA case, there is none.”
This statement points to a perceived inconsistency in the Governor’s approach to different cases based on their political implications.
The BJP’s standard operating procedure, as alleged by Kharge, involves leveraging agencies like the Income Tax Department and Enforcement Directorate against their opponents.
“The BJP has a standard practice of deploying the Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate against its opponents while misusing Governors.”
– Kharge concluded, encapsulating the core of the ongoing political strife in Karnataka.