Rahul Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, has formally requested the cancellation of a five-acre plot allotted to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust. In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), Kharge, who also serves as the Chairman of the trust, expressed the desire to withdraw the proposal for the land allotment, which was intended for a multiple skill development and research center.
In his correspondence dated September 20, 2024, Rahul Kharge stated, “We withdraw our proposal and request the board to cancel the allotment of the CA site requested for the multiple skill development centre and research centre.” He further indicated that the board should consider this action as a voluntary surrender of the CA site in accordance with Clause 8 of the allotment letter.
The timing of Kharge’s request is particularly notable, occurring in the midst of heightened scrutiny surrounding the MUDA land scam. Just recently, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah returned the controversial land allotment, which had faced backlash from opposition parties.
Background Of The Controversy
The controversy regarding the five-acre plot traces back to March 2024, when the Siddaramaiah-led government granted land to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, headed by Rahul Kharge. This decision was met with swift condemnation from the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the Congress-led government of abusing its power and engaging in nepotism by favoring party affiliates. The BJP demanded the resignation of Mallikarjun Kharge’s son, Priyank Kharge, from the Karnataka Cabinet, alleging that he facilitated an illegal land deal for his family through the KIADB.
Response From The Kharge Family
In response to these allegations, Priyank Kharge took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend the trust and counter the BJP’s claims. He emphasized that the Siddhartha Vihar Trust operates as an educational, cultural, and charitable organization, rather than a private family entity. “The trust did not wish to be drawn into long-drawn controversies which will divert attention and efforts from the primary objective of education and social service,” he stated.
He further criticized the BJP’s approach, arguing that the party seems to elevate individuals with questionable credentials while undermining those who have made significant contributions to society. “A person who can’t hold a bat can become Chairman of ICC or BCCI under the BJP regime, but a person who was conferred the Agni Award from DRDO for Excellence in Self-Reliance can’t build a skill development centre for the youth,” Priyank Kharge remarked.
MUST READ: India Ranks 105th In Global Hunger Index 2024, Labelled As ‘Serious’
