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The political landscape of Karnataka is currently abuzz with the controversy surrounding the alleged land grabbing by the Karnataka Housing Board (Muda) involving the wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Amidst this storm, Industries Minister MB Patil has come out in strong defense of the CM, asserting that Siddaramaiah will emerge stronger from this episode. Patil believes the issue raised by the BJP is unfounded and lacks merit, as evidenced by the support he has received from within the BJP itself.
Patil points out the internal divisions within the BJP on this matter, with some BJP leaders expressing their dissent privately. He emphasizes the lack of evidence against Siddaramaiah, suggesting the case will be quashed in court. Patil views the BJP's actions as an attempt to harass Siddaramaiah, with no genuine basis for the accusations. He refutes any wrongdoing by Siddaramaiah and emphasizes that he holds no responsibility for the alleged illegal land encroachment by the Muda, which has since offered alternative land at a 50:50 ratio.
The minister also criticizes the governor of Karnataka, accusing him of acting as a puppet in the hands of the central government. He highlights the swift approval granted to prosecute Siddaramaiah within nine hours of receiving a complaint, without any initial investigation. In contrast, the governor has delayed approval for similar prosecutions against BJP leaders for several months, even though initial inquiries were completed. This discrepancy, according to Patil, further exposes the governor's alleged bias and fuels the Congress's call for a 'Raj Bhavan Chalo' protest on August 31st.
Beyond the Muda controversy, Patil also addresses accusations against Mallikarjun Kharge, the AICC chief, from Chalavadi Narayanswamy, the opposition leader in the legislative council. He dismisses these accusations as lacking merit and alleges that Narayanswamy is being used by the BJP and RSS to create division among Dalits. He questions the silence of other BJP leaders on this issue, suggesting that their intention is to tarnish the image of a prominent Dalit leader like Kharge.
Patil predicts a turbulent future for BY Vijayendra, the current state president of the BJP. He claims that Vijayendra faces internal resistance from various leaders, including Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi, R Ashoka, and Basavaraj Bommai. This internal discord, according to Patil, signals a potential change in leadership for the BJP in Karnataka.
Source: Siddaramaiah: CM will emerge stronger after Muda episode: MB Patil