A political storm has erupted in Karnataka over allegations of a land scam involving Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and his son, Priyank Kharge. The BJP, the opposition party, has accused the Kharge family of using their influence to secure land from the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) for a trust they run. The BJP has demanded a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and called for Priyank Kharge’s immediate removal from his position as a minister in the Karnataka government.
The controversy began when BJP leader Lahar Singh Siroya, a Rajya Sabha member, questioned the allocation of KIADB land to the trust, asking why the Kharge family, with no known experience in aerospace, were eligible for such land. He alleged that the land allocation was a case of nepotism, misuse of power, and conflict of interest.
Gaurav Bhatia, a national spokesperson for the BJP, at a press conference, called for the resignation of both Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyank Kharge, as well as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Bhatia accused the Congress of a pattern of corruption, stating that the party’s slogan seemed to be “wherever we go, we will do corruption.” He pointed to the allocation of five acres of land to the Kharge family trust, claiming it was granted by bypassing established rules and that other companies and organizations who had applied for the land were denied.
However, the Congress has vehemently defended the land allocation, asserting that it was done in accordance with the law. Priyank Kharge, who serves as the Minister for Electronics, IT/BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, denied any illegality in the process. He accused the BJP of engaging in political maneuvering by complaining to the Governor, asserting that the land was designated for a civic amenity site, not an industrial plot, and intended for educational purposes.
The Kharge family’s trust has been running educational institutions for over two decades, according to Priyank Kharge, who further dismissed BJP leader Lahar Singh Siroya’s allegations as an attempt to regain political favor by maligning his family. The BJP’s accusations have sparked a heated debate in Karnataka, with both parties firmly entrenched in their positions. It remains to be seen whether the BJP’s demands for a CBI investigation and Priyank Kharge’s dismissal will be met, or if the Congress will be able to weather this latest political storm.
