Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundurao Criticizes Governor’s Actions in Siddaramaiah Investigation
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 24: Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundurao has criticized Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot for allegedly misusing his office by sanctioning an investigation into Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Gundurao stated that the real issue is the misuse of the Governor’s office, not the MUDA case itself.
Gundurao remarked, “Here the issue is not about the MUDA. It is about the way the Raj Bhavan and Governor are functioning and how his office is misused. And we are seeing it on a day-to-day basis now…The way he is behaving is awkward, and it is against constitutional norms. Now, whatever the verdict, the law will take its course. There is no problem about that.”
He added, “The CM is very confident about his innocence. We are very confident about his innocence. And whatever happens, we will face it. But here the situation is with the BJP, the opposition. The central government is trying to destabilize the government. They’re trying to create confusion. They want the administration derailed, and development doesn’t happen in Karnataka.”
The Karnataka High Court is set to pronounce its verdict on Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the Governor’s approval for the investigation. Justice M Nagaprasanna had reserved the judgment on September 12 and will announce the verdict at 12 pm today.
Senior lawyers, including Supreme Court lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued for Siddaramaiah, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. Advocates for the complainants, Snehamai Krishna and TJ Abraham, also presented their arguments.
It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife in a prime location in Mysuru city. The High Court had granted temporary relief to Siddaramaiah on August 19 by directing a special court in Bengaluru to defer further proceedings and not take any precipitative action based on the Governor’s sanction.
On August 31, the Governor’s office informed the High Court that the sanction to prosecute Siddaramaiah was given after “application of mind.” Amid the controversy, Karnataka ministers and Congress legislators conducted a ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ protest against the Governor’s decision. The Congress party has accused the Governor of discriminatory behavior, alleging that other cases pending before him have not been acted upon.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It has its own government and Chief Minister.
Minister -: A Minister is a person who is in charge of a specific department in the government, like education or health.
Dinesh Gundurao -: Dinesh Gundurao is a politician in Karnataka. He is a member of the Congress party and holds a position in the state government.
Governor -: A Governor is a person appointed by the President of India to oversee a state. They have certain powers and duties, like approving laws.
Thawar Chand Gehlot -: Thawar Chand Gehlot is the current Governor of Karnataka. He was appointed by the President of India.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state. Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah -: Siddaramaiah is a politician and the current Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is a member of the Congress party.
Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) -: MUDA is a government organization in Mysuru, Karnataka. It is responsible for planning and developing the city.
Scam -: A scam is a dishonest scheme or fraud. In this case, it means there are allegations of wrongdoing in MUDA.
Karnataka High Court -: The Karnataka High Court is the highest court in the state of Karnataka. It makes important legal decisions.
Verdict -: A verdict is a decision made by a court. It tells what the court has decided about a case.
Petition -: A petition is a formal request to a court asking for a specific action. Siddaramaiah has filed a petition against the Governor’s approval.
Congress party -: The Congress party is one of the major political parties in India. It has many members and leaders across the country.
Bias -: Bias means showing unfair preference for or against someone. The Congress party is accusing the Governor of being unfair.
Protested -: Protested means showing strong disagreement or disapproval. The Congress party members are showing they do not agree with the Governor’s actions.