BENGALURU, Oct 13: In a significant development amidst the ongoing controversies surrounding land allotments in Karnataka, Rahul Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Chairman of the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, has requested the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to cancel the ownership of a five-acre plot allotted to the Trust.
This request was made in a letter addressed to the KIADB CEO, dated September 20, 2024.
In his communication, Rahul Kharge stated, “We withdraw our proposal and request the board to cancel the allotment of CA site requested for the multiple skill development centre and research centre.”
He further urged the board to accept the request as a voluntary surrender of the site, as per Clause 8 of the allotment letter. The backdrop to this request lies in the recent political turmoil surrounding land grants, particularly following Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s return of a controversial allotment linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. The incident has been a focal point of intense scrutiny and criticism, especially from the state’s opposition party, the BJP, which has accused the Congress-led government of nepotism and misuse of power. The five-acre plot in question was allocated to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust in March 2024, leading to immediate backlash from BJP leaders. They alleged that the allotment was a blatant act of favoritism towards the Kharge family. In light of these controversies, the Karnataka BJP demanded the resignation of Priyank Kharge, Rahul’s brother and current cabinet member, accusing him of facilitating an illegal land deal. Defending the Trust, Priyank Kharge took to social media platform X, emphasising that the Siddhartha Vihar Trust is fundamentally an educational, cultural, and charitable organisation rather than a personal enterprise. He criticised the BJP for instigating what he termed a “needless controversy,” asserting the Trust’s commitment to its core mission of education and social service. He further stated, “A person who can’t hold a bat can become Chairman of ICC or BCCI under the BJP regime, but a person who was conferred the Agni Award from DRDO for Excellence in Self Reliance can’t build a skill development centre for the youth.” This remark aims to illustrate the perceived double standards in political criticisms being levied by opposing parties. As the situation unfolds, the implications of Rahul Kharge’s request and the surrounding controversies may hold significant repercussions for the Congress party in Karnataka, particularly in light of the approaching byelections. (UNI)
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