BJP-JD(S) 'Mysuru Chalo' march demanding CM's resignation continues on day 7

Mandya, Karnataka: The combined Opposition, BJP and JD(S), on Friday continued their protest march, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam.' The week-long Bengaluru-Mysuru padayatre (foot march) has sought to highlight the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA, including to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi.

The seventh day of the 'Mysuru Chalo' protest march began at Srirangapatna in Mandya district, and is scheduled to cover a distance of 10 km. This even as the Congress is hosting a mega "Janandolana" convention at Maharaja's College Grounds in Mysuru today in support of Siddaramaiah and to counter the opposition's allegations and their foot march.

BJP-JD(S) are scheduled to conclude their protest march on Saturday by holding a mega rally on reaching Mysuru.

BJP state president and MLA B Y Vijayendra, former Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan, former BJP national general secretary and MLC C T Ravi, several legislators, leaders and workers from both parties took part, as the march resumed.

Participation of women workers on a large scale was the highlight of today's march.

Large numbers of workers and leaders from both parties were seen marching shouting slogans against Siddaramaiah and the Congress government, holding BJP and JD(S) party flags and placards, amidst sounds of drum beat.

The stretch through which the march passed through was decked up with flags of both parties, buntings and portraits of prominent leaders at several places.

Kick started on August 3 at Kengeri near Bengaluru, the march on its first day had covered a distance of 16 km to reach Bidadi, 22 km on day two to reach Kengal, 20 km on day three to reach Nidaghatta, 20 km to reach Mandya city on day four, 16 km on day five to Tubinakere, and 17 km on day six to reach Srirangapatna.

In the MUDA 'scam', it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA.

The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.

Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts.

BJP leaders have claimed that the MUDA "scam" is of the magnitude of Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore.

The Congress government on July 14 constituted a single member inquiry commission under former High Court Judge Justice P N Desai to probe the MUDA 'scam'.

Based on a petition filed by advocate-activist T J Abraham, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had issued "show-cause notice" on July 26 directing the Chief Minister to submit his reply to the allegations against him within seven days as to why permission for prosecution should not be granted against him.

The Karnataka government on August 1 "strongly advised" the Governor to withdraw his "show-cause notice" to the Chief Minister, and alleged "gross misuse of the Constitutional Office '' of the Governor. The council of Ministers, after their meeting, had said a concerted effort is being made to destabilise a lawfully elected majority government in Karnataka for political considerations.

Following this. the Governor is said to be weighing options vis-a-vis the petition seeking sanction for Chief Minister's prosecution.