‘Recommend a CBI inquiry and resign, your honour will grow’: BJP to Siddaramaiah

Hours after a special Karnataka court ordered a Lokayukta inquiry against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Karnataka BJP on Wednesday said he should resign after recommending a CBI probe into the MUDA case.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here, Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said the Chief Minister’s honour would increase if he resigned following the recommendation of a CBI inquiry.

Vijayendra also asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to cooperate in the investigation and acknowledged the Supreme Court verdict and the special order of the court.

He further said, “When former chief minister BS Yediyurappa was confronted with allegations, opposition leader Siddaramaiah demanded his resignation, saying it was impossible to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry when he was in the chair. Therefore, Mr Yediyurappa should not remain in power. He should resign immediately.”

A video clip of Siddaramaiah’s remark was shown on television.

“The BJP continues to fight against the corrupt Congress and the corrupt Chief Minister. We organised a ‘Mysuru Chalo’ padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru. Based on a private complaint, the Governor had ordered an inquiry and the Supreme Court had upheld the Governor’s order. Now the Special Court has ordered a Lokayukta inquiry into the MUDA scandal.

“Even though the court has today issued an order for Lokayukta inquiry, the Chief Minister should resign to ensure a fair and impartial investigation,” Viijayendra added.

“The petition of social activist and complainant Snehamayi Krishna from Mysuru was submitted to the Special Court for People’s Representatives. A comprehensive argument was made in the court last month. CM Siddaramaiah had approached the Supreme Court against the Governor’s order and the lower court too had obtained a stay on the proceedings. On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that the Governor’s decision was valid and in order. It clarified that the Governor’s order in the MUDA scam case is legal,” Vijayendra said.

“The Supreme Court has also lifted the stay of the special court. Today, the special court passed important orders in relation to the MUDA scandal in Mysuru and pointed out that there were major irregularities in connection with 14 properties worth Rs 56 crore linked to the Chief Minister’s family,” he said.

It was found that a three-acre plot purchased by CM Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law was also de-registered. The special court pointed out that these transactions were not carried out properly and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into these irregularities.

The Mysuru Lokayukta police have been directed to complete the investigation into the MUDA scam within three months, he said.

“This scam is not limited to just 14 properties; there are properties worth Rs 4,000-5,000 crore elsewhere too, allegedly controlled by brokers. Only the CBI could conduct a comprehensive investigation,” Vijayendra said.

(With inputs from IANS)