Siddaramaiah Fights Back Amid Mysuru Land Scam Probe, Questions HD Kumaraswamy's Silence on Own Scandal

Bengaluru – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, embroiled in a land scam inquiry, has hit back at his critics, raising questions about Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s alleged wrongdoings. The Chief Minister is currently facing intense pressure from opposition parties, including the BJP and Janata Dal Secular (JDS), and from members within his own party.

The controversy centers around claims that Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi, was allotted multiple plots of prime land in Mysuru as compensation for other land, allegedly undervalued by ₹4,000 crore. The inquiry has led to fierce calls for Siddaramaiah to resign, with opposition leaders accusing him of corruption. However, Siddaramaiah has remained defiant, insisting that he has done nothing wrong in his four-decade political career.

In response to the mounting criticism, Siddaramaiah turned the tables on Friday, questioning why similar calls for resignation were not directed at JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, who currently serves as the Union Heavy Industries Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet. Siddaramaiah pointed to a police case against Kumaraswamy over allegations that he provided false information during the Lok Sabha elections.

"Which government does HD Kumaraswamy belong to? There is an FIR... why did he not resign? He is a minister in Prime Minister Modi's cabinet," Siddaramaiah stated, as he sought to deflect attention from his own legal troubles.

Kumaraswamy's Retaliation

Not one to back down, Kumaraswamy quickly responded on social media platform X, mocking Siddaramaiah with a sarcastic reference to his leadership. He accused Siddaramaiah of hypocrisy, reminding him of his previous efforts to weaken the state's Lokayukta by creating an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister.

"Isn't this karma, Mr. Siddaramaiah? ACB was dismissed by the High Court, and now you have sidelined the Lokayukta and closed the door for the CBI to enter the state," Kumaraswamy jeered, referring to a 2022 court ruling that prevented the establishment of an ACB when a functioning Lokayukta was already in place.

The Land Scam: Allegations and Investigation

The land scam involves claims that Parvathi, Siddaramaiah's wife, was improperly allotted multiple plots in an upscale Mysuru neighborhood. These allotments allegedly came as compensation for land that had been seized for infrastructure development at a significantly lower value, leading to accusations of a ₹4,000 crore loss for the state.

Siddaramaiah has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that he has always conducted himself with integrity throughout his political career. He expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying, "I am not afraid. I will fight this legally."

The situation escalated after a special court ordered an investigation by the state’s Lokayukta, giving it three months to complete the inquiry. The High Court also quashed Siddaramaiah’s attempt to challenge the Governor’s sanction to prosecute a sitting Chief Minister, further intensifying the legal battle.

Despite these setbacks, Siddaramaiah has refused to step down, maintaining that the inquiry will be fair and unbiased. He has also rejected calls for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to be involved, insisting that the state Lokayukta is capable of handling the case.

Political Maneuvering and BJP Involvement

The BJP has been quick to capitalize on the scandal, demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation and portraying the Congress-led government in Karnataka as corrupt. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself commented on the issue during a recent rally in Haryana, accusing the Congress of failing to govern effectively.

In response, Siddaramaiah took a swipe at Modi, accusing him of hypocrisy. In a lengthy post on X, the Chief Minister urged Modi not to "throw stones while sitting in a glass house" and highlighted internal divisions within the BJP’s Karnataka unit.

State vs. CBI Jurisdiction

Further complicating matters is the Karnataka government's recent decision to withdraw general consent for the CBI to operate in the state. This move effectively prevents the federal agency from investigating cases in Karnataka without the state government’s permission.

Law Minister HK Patil has defended the decision, citing concerns about the misuse of the CBI by the central government for political purposes. "They are biased... that is why we are taking this decision," Patil said, aligning with other opposition parties that have voiced similar concerns about the impartiality of federal investigations.

As the legal and political battle continues, Siddaramaiah remains defiant in the face of mounting pressure. His decision to draw attention to HD Kumaraswamy’s own legal troubles suggests a broader strategy to turn the tables on his critics. However, with both the Lokayukta and the courts closely scrutinizing the Mysuru land scandal, Siddaramaiah’s political future remains uncertain.

For now, the Karnataka Chief Minister is standing his ground, but the controversy has cast a long shadow over his administration, with both the opposition and his own party members watching closely to see how the situation unfolds.