New Delhi [India], October 1 : Responding to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife's decision to surrender 14 plots to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) after a case against her husband, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has criticised the move as a "joke," suggesting it was merely an excuse of "I stole and then regretted."
Speaking to the media in New Delhi on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy expressed his respect for Siddaramaiah's wife, whom he referred to as a sister, while questioning the timing of her letter and the implications behind it.
He accused Siddaramaiah of making political U-turns and hinted at deeper irregularities within the Chief Minister's administration beyond the ongoing MUDA scandal.
The Union Minister noted that Siddaramaiah's wife suddenly wrote a letter on Monday night expressing her intention to return the plots. Kumaraswamy remarked that in the letter, "there was no affection for houses, gold, or any property," claiming that they are all as insignificant as "straw in front of her husband."
While saying that he wouldn't speak about Siddaramaiah's wife, he suggested that Siddaramaiah has been politically astute without attracting attention.
Kumaraswamy pointed out that Siddaramaiah and Congress call him a liar, but he suggested that if you listen to their words, it becomes clear where the lies originate.
He claimed that Congress labels him as a hit-and-run politician and asked, "What about Siddaramaiah? Who prompted a hasty decision to return the plots? Is it possible to say, 'I stole and later regretted?'"
Kumaraswamy stated that beyond the MUDA scandal, Siddaramaiah has committed numerous irregularities. He quoted Siddaramaiah's wife as saying there's no attachment to land or gold and criticized Siddaramaiah for previously believing that everything would be resolved by making a payment, yet now finds himself in this situation.
He provided information about another old land scam involving Siddaramaiah, stating that the case of the 14 sites is less significant than this case. He mentioned that when this case surfaced, the land was sold for one crore rupees to clear election loans but questioned the origin of the land.
Kumaraswamy claimed that Siddaramaiah acquired land by denotifying it for constructing a residential school for poor children, making him the first accused in this case. He noted that there are a total of 18 accused and that the court has ruled against Siddaramaiah, but he sought relief from the High Court.
He emphasized that this is a bigger scandal than the MUDA scam and urged the public to be aware of what Siddaramaiah has done, stating, "Now he goes to Chamundeshwari Temple seeking protection." He added that there are two more cases against Siddaramaiah.
The Union Minister also questioned Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda, saying, "Minister Krishna Byregowda, are you awake? Please investigate all these matters thoroughly. I have done nothing wrong. The issues arose, and the land was sold in the name of election expenses. If one suffers from a problem, it becomes a divine issue for another; this is how it works. They tried to misuse their power to finish us off."