Son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Siddhartha Vihar Trust chairperson Rahul Kharge on Sunday withdrew his request for the allotment of five acres of land in Bengaluru. The land was intended to set up a 'Multi-Skill Development Centre, Training Institutes, and Research Centre'.
This move follows the recent return of 14 sites to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah 's wife Parvathi, after a case the Lokayukta police filed a case against Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi B M and brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and others as per order issued by a Special Court on September 25.
The case pertains to a land transaction in which Mallikarjuna Swamy acquired property from Devaraju and subsequently gifted it to Parvathi BM. The Lokayukta police have initiated an investigation into the matter following the court's directive.
BJP IT department head Amit Malviya and BJP Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya questioned the land allotment on social media. Malviya called it a "misuse of power, nepotism , and conflict of interest." Siroya questioned how the Kharge family became eligible for Karnataka Industrial Development Board ( KIADB ) land.
Priyank Kharge, Mallikarjun Kharge's younger son and a Karnataka government minister, shared details of the withdrawal on his social media account, including a scanned copy of the letter. In the letter, written to the CEO of KIADB on September 20, Rahul Kharge stated the withdrawal of the request, citing their objective to create employable opportunities through skill development for students and unemployed youth.
"The proposed Multi-Skill Development Centre aimed primarily to serve youngsters to make them more employable and industry-ready with skills and future skills. It was also designed to help students who were unable to pursue college education," Rahul Kharge wrote.
Priyank Kharge asserted that the Siddhartha Vihar Trust is a public trust and not a private or family-run entity. He mentioned that the trust is fully eligible to apply for and receive a civic amenity site for educational purposes, but cannot function effectively under politically motivated allegations. "In light of the circumstances, the Trust wrote to the KIADB to withdraw our proposal and withdraw our request for a CA site for establishing a skill development and research centre," Priyank Kharge added.
The trust had initially submitted its proposal on February 12, 2024, which was approved a month later.
In response, Lahar Singh Siroya expressed satisfaction with the withdrawal, saying, "I feel vindicated. The Kharge family has returned the 5-acre KIADB land illegally allotted to them. When I had raised this issue I was threatened and abused by Kharge Jr. and his cronies. Truth has prevailed."
Siroya also recalled his previous statement from August 25, where he had questioned the allotment of land and whether it would be probed.
This move follows the recent return of 14 sites to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah 's wife Parvathi, after a case the Lokayukta police filed a case against Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi B M and brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and others as per order issued by a Special Court on September 25.
The case pertains to a land transaction in which Mallikarjuna Swamy acquired property from Devaraju and subsequently gifted it to Parvathi BM. The Lokayukta police have initiated an investigation into the matter following the court's directive.
BJP IT department head Amit Malviya and BJP Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya questioned the land allotment on social media. Malviya called it a "misuse of power, nepotism , and conflict of interest." Siroya questioned how the Kharge family became eligible for Karnataka Industrial Development Board ( KIADB ) land.
Priyank Kharge, Mallikarjun Kharge's younger son and a Karnataka government minister, shared details of the withdrawal on his social media account, including a scanned copy of the letter. In the letter, written to the CEO of KIADB on September 20, Rahul Kharge stated the withdrawal of the request, citing their objective to create employable opportunities through skill development for students and unemployed youth.
On Sep 20, 2024 the Trust has sought the cancellation of the CA site that has allotted for Skill Development.
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 13, 2024
However, we would like to reiterate that:
1. Siddhartha Vihar Trust is a public educational, cultural, and charitable trust. It is not a private or family trust. All… pic.twitter.com/Z1sqKGjHLH
"The proposed Multi-Skill Development Centre aimed primarily to serve youngsters to make them more employable and industry-ready with skills and future skills. It was also designed to help students who were unable to pursue college education," Rahul Kharge wrote.
Priyank Kharge asserted that the Siddhartha Vihar Trust is a public trust and not a private or family-run entity. He mentioned that the trust is fully eligible to apply for and receive a civic amenity site for educational purposes, but cannot function effectively under politically motivated allegations. "In light of the circumstances, the Trust wrote to the KIADB to withdraw our proposal and withdraw our request for a CA site for establishing a skill development and research centre," Priyank Kharge added.
The trust had initially submitted its proposal on February 12, 2024, which was approved a month later.
In response, Lahar Singh Siroya expressed satisfaction with the withdrawal, saying, "I feel vindicated. The Kharge family has returned the 5-acre KIADB land illegally allotted to them. When I had raised this issue I was threatened and abused by Kharge Jr. and his cronies. Truth has prevailed."
Siroya also recalled his previous statement from August 25, where he had questioned the allotment of land and whether it would be probed.
