BENGALURU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) opposition alliance in Karnataka on Saturday kicked off its 10-day ‘Mysuru Chalo’ padayatra from Kengeri near Bengaluru to Mysuru over the alleged MUDA site allotment and Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scams.
State BJP general secretary P Rajeev said they are undertaking the padayatra against the alleged corrupt activities of the Siddaramiah government. “The Congress government in Karnataka, from day one, has been engaged in corruption activities. Tax money is being used for election purposes. The whole cabinet is engaged in illegal and corrupt activities like the MUDA scam, diversion of SC, ST funds and misusing government fund. The Valmiki corporation (scam) funds were used to purchase liquor, car and gold. So, in this situation, being an opposition party, BJP has taken this very seriously and today we are starting our Mysuru Chalo Padayatra”.
Meanwhile, BJP state President B Y Vijayendra along with family visited the Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hills in Mysuru before starting the padayatra.
In a statement, Vijayendra said that the opposition is the voice of the people. “Our ‘Mysuru Chalo’ struggle is not person-centred, standing as the voice of the people and protecting the wealth and rights of the people is a struggle of our sincere concern. It is inevitable to remove the corrupt Congress government of the state. In this regard, we are requesting everyone’s cooperation and support for this huge walk to represent the people’s anger. I request the public to join hands with us”, Vijayendra said.
On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar slammed the BJP’s padayatra over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam and said that they are “trying to make an issue out of a non-issue”.
“Congress wants to ask them what they have done in their tenure. It was the most scandalous government BJP ever had. They are doing padayatra for nothing, they are trying to make an issue out of a non-issue,” Shivakumar said.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had issued a show-cause notice to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 27 over the alleged MUDA site allotment scam. Earlier, a complaint was filed by social activist Snehamayi Krishna against CM Siddaramaiah and nine others for allegedly forging documents to claim compensation from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority.
The complaint alleges wrongdoing by Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, his brother-in-law Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, who claimed to be a landowner, and his family. It was further alleged that MUDA created fake documents and obtained plots worth crores of rupees. Snehamayi Krishna has raised several questions in his complaint. (ANI)