Plot Allotment Case: Karnataka CM questions the rationale of Governor in serving show cause to him

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday questioned the rationale of Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot over a show cause notice served on him on a petition by RTI activist T.J. Abraham in connection with plot allotments to his wife Parvatahi by Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in Mysuru city even before a couple of requisitions are waiting for Governor's nod for prosecution.

He addressed a public function in Mysuru city at Maharaja’s College Grounds after the Congress party’s valedictory of ‘Janandolana’ programme and appealed to people to back him.

Taking exception to the show cause notice by the Governor, he pointed to the pending requests for sanction with the Governor particularly against former Chief Minister and Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, former ministers and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders-Shashikala Jolle and Murugesh Nirani.

While sleuths of Karnataka Lokayukta made a request to the Governor to accord sanction to prosecute H.D. Kumaraswamy in connection with an illegal iron ore mining case in November last year but the Governor sought an explanation from Kumaraswamy on July 29, he said and termed the show cause of the Governor done in ‘haste.'

He explained, he got show notice from the Governor after a petition by activist T.J. Abraham on July 26 at around 11.30 am while the Governor served show cause notice at around 10.30 pm on the same day he received the petition. But, the Governor, he accused, has not served notices to either Shashikala Jolle or Murugesh Nirani though requests have been made to prosecute these leaders much before.

He suspected a conspiracy hatched by opposition leaders involving H.D. Kumaraswamy, R. Ashok among others and exuded confidence that BJP-JDS cannot dislodge the State Government led by the Congress party. He pointed out activist T.J. Abraham, a petitioner has been fined Rs 25 lakh by Supreme Court and Abraham has been chargesheeted in an alleged ‘blackmailing’ case of a woman.

With regard to the show cause notice by the Governor, the Chief Minister said “Is it a bona fide case?” fit to serve notice and also questioned the show cause notice “Is it as per law?.”

Taking on the opposition party leaders of BJP and JDS, Siddaramaiah questioned the morality of opposition leaders such as H.D. Kumaraswamy, former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok and State president of BJP B.Y. Vijayendra who all have several cases against them. Siddaramaiah stated BJP leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is 82 years and has been chargesheeted in a sexual harassment case booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Yediyurappa faces about 20 cases while his son Vijayendra is charged with several cases against him as well.

The Chief Minister reminded H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janthakal mining case against him and asked Kumaraswamy “Do you have any shame?” to demand my resignation. He said Kumaraswamy renewed mining licences of 22 companies.

Referring to BJP leader R. Ashok, Chief Minister said Ashok obtained stay from High Court of Karnataka and also from Supreme Court in connection with granting lands when he was the Chairman of Land Grants Committee and questioned “Do you have any shame to demand my resignation?”

To opposition leaders, Siddaramaiah said he will not bend or be shaken by the padayatra against him to demand for his resignation and asked the gathering “Will you fight for me?”

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ministers- Dr G Parameshwar, Satish Jarkiholi, and others spoke.