Why a plot of land has become a flashpoint between BJP and Congress in Karnataka

The land was approved at an aerospace park near Bengaluru to a trust chaired by his son Rahul in March 2024.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress have locked horns over a plot of land in Karnataka. The state unit of the BJP has questioned the allotment of five acres of land to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's family in the Hitech Defence Aerospace Park near Bengaluru.

The fresh row comes amid Chief Minister Siddaramiah facing allegations of corruption linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.

What is the land controversy?

The land was approved at an aerospace park near Bengaluru to a trust chaired by his son Rahul in March 2024. The piece of land was reportedly part of 45.94 acres set aside for setting up civic amenities at the aerospace park. It was allocated in March under the Scheduled Caste quota to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust. It has Kharge, his son-in-law and Kalaburagi MP Radhakrishna, and son Rahul Kharge, among other family members, as trustees.

Activist Dinesh Kallahalli lodged a complaint with Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot alleging irregularities and corruption in the allotment of the sites. He also requested him to sanction prosecution against Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil to allow filing of a complaint with the state Lokayukta.

What is BJP’s allegation?

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lehar Singh Siroya was the first to level the allegations. He posted documents on the social media platform X pertaining to the land approval and questioned how the Kharge family became “aerospace entrepreneurs to be eligible for KIADB land”. The documents showed that Kharge's wife Radhabhai Kharge is also a member of the Siddhartha Vihar Trust.

#WATCH | On Mallikarjun Kharge family allegedly gets plot in Aerospace park near Bengaluru, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia says, "...Mallikarjun Kharge should resign immediately because he is the president, he has moral responsibility and his family has been accused of this scam. pic.twitter.com/xVfIxEM97i
ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2024

“Another land scam in Karnataka after the MUDA scam where the Siddharamiah (Siddaramaiah) family had to answer to the Kharge family? ... The trustees include Mr Kharge himself, his wife, Mrs Radhabai Kharge, his son-in-law and Gulbarga MP, Mr Radhakrishna, another son and minister in the Karnataka Government, Mr Priyank Kharge and yet another son Mr Rahul Kharge among others,” BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted on X.

What does Congress say?

According to Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil, no rules were violated and the site was allotted “at prescribed price, with no discounts”.

“Rahul Kharge is an IIT graduate who has expressed his intention to establish a Research and Development (R&D) Centre on the allotted land. His family has a longstanding involvement in various educational activities. Under KIADB norms, CA plots can be used for setting up R&D centres, centres of excellence, technical institutes, skill development centres, government offices, banks, hospitals, hotels, petrol stations, canteens, and residential facilities,” he said.

Patil said any interested and eligible person can apply for a CA plot and allotments will be made after recommendations from the state-level single window committee.

Little knowledge is dangerous Sri @LaharSingh_MP avare.Firstly, the site allotted is NOT an industrial plot meant for industrial or commercial purposes. It is for educational purposes.The intention of the trust is to set up a multi skill development center in the CA site. Is https://t.co/6xD8nf0mio Priyank Kharge / (@PriyankKharge) August 26, 2024

Meanwhile, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge denied the allegations, with a dig at the BJP MP. "Little knowledge is dangerous," he stated on X.

Kharge said that the approved site is "not an industrial plot meant for industrial or commercial purposes" but for "educational purposes".

He also questioned the land allocated to Chanakya University during the BJP’s rule. “Would like to hear from you on how your government gave away lands across the state to RSS-backed Rashtrothana and Chanakya University? Why was your tongue tied then?”