New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) The BJP on Tuesday sought a CBI probe into the allocation of a five-acre industrial plot in Karnataka to a trust controlled by the family of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing the state government of “manipulating” the allocation process
The party alleged that the land, intended for industrialists, was “wrongfully allocated” to an educational trust managed by the Kharge family. Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge and state Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil have already rubbished the allegations.
Addressing a press conference at the national capital, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia demanded the immediate resignation of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and his son and state minister Priyank Kharge, claiming there was a “conflict of interest” and “potential misuse of power”.
“The land was allocated by bending the rules to benefit the Kharge family,” Bhatia alleged.
He asserted that the allocation of land meant for industrial development had been “improperly diverted” to a trust with no industrial background, and claimed that it has raised questions about fairness and transparency in Karnataka’s land distribution policies.
Bhatia emphasised that the plot, located at Aerospace Park under the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), was intended for industrialists and companies contributing to the state’s industrial growth.
“Instead of being allocated to deserving industrial enterprises, the land was granted to a trust run by the Kharge family, which is primarily involved in education, not industry,” he said.
The BJP National spokesperson further called for an impartial investigation by the CBI to determine the truth behind the allocation process. “This is a clear case of rule-bending to favour the Congress leadership.
An independent probe by the CBI is essential to uncover how land meant for industrialists was handed over to a politically connected family trust,” he stated.
Bhatia accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of presiding over a series of corruption scandals. “This incident is not an isolated case; it is part of a pattern of corruption that has plagued the Congress wherever it governs,”
He also referred to the MUDA and Valmiki Development Corporation controversies to buttress his point.
The allegation was first made by BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya, who claimed that the trust had no apparent with no apparent industrial credentials, but was still deemed eligible for land specifically earmarked for industrial use.
Siroya also alleged that the land allocation process was influenced by “nepotism and political favouritism”.
On the other hand. Patil, while trashing the accusations, claimed that the Civic Amenity (CA) plot at Aerospace Park was granted in “full compliance” with the norms and at a prescribed price. Patil dismissed the BJP’s claims as baseless, accusing the party of “trying to create a controversy for political gain”.
