What is MUDA 'scam' BJP has accused Siddaramaiah's wife of?

A major political row has erupted with BJP accusing Congress of indulging in a multi-crore scam in Karnataka. It has been alleged that Mysuru Urban Development Authority or MUDA allotted plots to land losers fraudulently and that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathy is one of the beneficiaries.

Pralhad Joshi said, "It is alleged that it is a more than Rs 3,800 crores scam and plots duly authorised by MUDA have been transferred in the name of the wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. There is a huge scam and the then DC who has now been transferred to cover up the same, had written more than 15 letters to the state government to look into the matter and show proper directions to MUDA. In spite of that, they did not act and Siddaramaiah got very valuable land."

He further said, "By transferring the DC the scam has been proven. We are demanding a proper and impartial investigation and the state government should give it to the CBI."

It is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by MUDA. The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout. The controversial scheme envisages allotting 50 per cent of developed land to the person losing the property in lieu of undeveloped land acquired for forming layouts.

On Friday, Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra and several other party leaders were detained when were on their way to Mysuru to stage a protest over the alleged scam.

Siddaramaiah has rejected the allegations saying that the land allotment under the MUDA order was carried out under the BJP government in 2021.

Speaking to reporters in Mysore, CM Siddaramiah said, "The BJP is protesting politically. Do they only want to do politics over everything? We too know how to resist politically".

"Our is not a scam. The MUDA used our lands; those who lost their lands were allotted the same under the BJP government in the 50:50 ratio," the Karnataka Chief Minister said.

Also watch: SpiceJet woman staffer slaps CISF man, airline alleges sexual harassment