Minister Priyank Kharge targets Yediyurappa, Vijayendra in House over waqf issue

BENGALURU: IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge made a big revelation about the wakf issue in the Legislative Assembly. He accused former CM Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra of trying to cover up the scam. Priyank Kharge even claimed that Vijayendra offered Rs 150 crore to BJP leader Anwar Manippady to withdraw a case. This has caused a huge stir in the BJP.

Anwar Manippady wrote to the Prime Minister in May 2021, alleging that Rs 2.3 lakh crore was misused in the Waqf Board and several Congress leaders were involved. “Vijayendra offered Rs 150 crore to Manippady to withdraw the case on the direction of BS Yediyurappa. But no CM from BJP took action in this matter”, Priyank Kharge said.

Priyank Kharge questioned in the assembly why the BJP state president offered money to Manippady and to protect whose interests? The minister made this allegation in the absence of Vijayendra and it stirred a storm in the BJP bemcjes. Vijayendra is expected to counter Priyank Kharge’s allegations in Monday’s session.

The BJP leader Anwar Manippady submitted a report in 2012 on Waqf land encroachment. The report states that around 29,000 acres of Waqf land had been encroached. Despite this, no action has been taken in the Waqf case even after 10 years, prompting Manippady to fight alone. Manippady had made serious allegations against his own party leaders. Manippady even wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2021. The letter accused then CM B S Yediyurappa and his son B Y Vijayendra of trying to suppress the Waqf scam report.

Manippady alleged that Congress leaders had colluded with Yediyurappa and his son to hush up the case. Manippady had also written to  former CM Bommai, seeking a probe on the Waqf report by a sitting High Court judge or a retired judge.