BJP: CM wife's decision to surrender plots acceptance of wrongdoing

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra on Tuesday said the decision of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi B M to relinquish the ownership and possession of 14 plots, amounts to his official acceptance of wrongdoing in the MUDA 'scam' and demanded his immediate resignation. He termed her move a "political drama" and alleged that it was aimed at "escaping from legal hurdles", adding, Siddarmaiah should step down as Chief Minister. Hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) booked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a money laundering case, his wife on Monday wrote to Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) conveying her decision to relinquish the ownership and possession of 14 plots stating that no site, home, asset and wealth is bigger for her than her husband's respect, dignity, honour and peace of mind.

"I feel that CM Siddaramaiah, who used to claim before people of the state that he has done no wrong, who accused the Governor of acting as a puppet in the hands of Delhi (central government), today if that Siddaramaiah has decided to return the sites, it is only to escape from the legal hurdles and to gain political sympathy, and also against those within in his party who are ready to challenge him," Vijayendra said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, by agreeing to return the sites Siddaramaiah has "accepted wrong doing". "We urge Siddaramaiah who is facing allegations and is standing as an accused to stop being adamant and to resign from his post," he added.

On Monday, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by police, against the Chief Minister over the alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the MUDA. Hours later, in a dramatic development, the Chief Minister's wife wrote to MUDA expressing her desire to surrender the sites allotted by the MUDA. Noting that when the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot gave approval for investigation based on private complaints against the Chief Minister, Congress President, Ministers and leaders had made allegations that his decision was politically motivated and that he was acting as the puppet in the hands of the central government, Vijayendra demanded that before resigning as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah should apologise to the Governor.

He also urged the Home Minister and the Director General of Police to immediately ensure proper police security to social activist Snehamayi Krishna on whose complaint the Lokayukta police has registered an FIR against Siddaramaiah, his wife and two others, claiming that there were reports about "conspiracies" against him. "Snehamayi Krishna, who is from Mysuru, when accused Siddaramaiah of corruption, complaints were registered against him, aimed at tying his hands.

There were attempts to threaten him at the behest of the Chief Minister by his supporters," he alleged. Lokayukta police on September 27 registered an FIR against Siddaramaiah, his wife, brotherin- law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others. The order of the Special Court Judge, came a day after the High Court upheld the sanction granted by the Governor.