BJP Stages Overnight Sit-In Protest in Karnataka Assembly Over MUDA Scam

BJP legislators in Karnataka will hold an overnight protest at the Legislative Assembly demanding a discussion on the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. The protest targets CM Siddaramaiah's family, accusing them of misappropriating land and funds meant for Dalits. The Assembly was adjourned amid the uproar.

BJP legislators in Karnataka are planning to stage an overnight sit-in protest at the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on Wednesday to demand a debate on the alleged scam involving the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Earlier, BJP MLAs disrupted proceedings, urging a comprehensive probe into the scam, leading to the Assembly's adjournment till July 25.

BY Vijayendra, BJP Karnataka President, declared, "We will not allow injustice towards Dalits. The land given to the Chief Minister's family should be returned. Approximately five thousand plots were allocated randomly, and these too should be handed back to the government." Opposition Leader R. Ashoka confirmed his participation in the overnight protest.

Ashoka accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family of appropriating lands intended for Dalits. "We are staging a sleep-in protest in the Karnataka Assembly because this land doesn't belong to the Siddaramaiah family. The Speaker of the House permitted a discussion on the Bovi scam as demanded by Congress but has refused a debate on the MUDA scam," he stated.

He added, "MLAs and MLCs from both the BJP and JDS are protesting against this. They have misappropriated Rs 187 crores from Dalits' funds. Although the government offered to provide food and other necessities, we declined, emphasizing that they had stolen Dalits' money."

Previously, social activist Snehamayi Krishna filed a complaint against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and nine others, accusing them of forging documents to claim compensation from MUDA. The complaint implicates Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy, his brother-in-law Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, and his family, alleging that MUDA fabricated documents to secure plots worth crores of rupees.

(With inputs from agencies.)