“BJP trying to create something out of nothing”: Karnataka Minister K George on MUDA ‘scam’

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 30 (ANI): Karnataka Minister KJ George said on Tuesday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified that he has not done anything illegal in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam and accused the BJP of trying to make something out of nothing.

“The CM said that whatever has happened is legal. They (the BJP) can hold a ‘Padayatra’. We cannot stop it, as it is a democratic country. It’s up to them. The Chief Minister has said that he has not done anything illegal,” he told reporters here.

He further added, “Please tell me (the media) what illegality has happened. I have not seen anything that they (the BJP) are mentioning… Politically, they (the BJP) are trying to make something out of nothing.”

The BJP leaders in Karnataka are likely to stage a 10-day padayatra against the alleged scams of the Siddaramaiah government. The padayatra is likely to begin on July 31.

On Friday, Karnataka’s BJP MPs protested over the alleged MUDA and Valmiki Development scam in the parliament premises.

The Valmiki scam pertains to the alleged illegal transfer of funds from the Maharshi Valmiki ST Corporation, which is charged with implementing welfare programmes for scheduled tribe members.

Earlier, a complaint was filed by social activist Snehamayi Krishna against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and nine others for allegedly forging documents to claim compensation from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority.

The complaint alleges wrongdoing by Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy, his brother-in-law Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, who claimed to be a landowner, and his family. It was further alleged that MUDA created fake documents and obtained plots worth crores of rupees. Snehamayi Krishna has raised several questions in his complaint.

The BJP demands that the land given to the CM’s family should be returned. The opposition accused Siddaramaiah of usurping the lands that belonged to the Dalit community.