Mallikarjun Kharge's son returns land amid MUDA controversy

Rahul Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, has voluntarily surrendered a five-acre plot of land allocated to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, following heightened scrutiny over the MUDA land scam.

In a letter to the CEO of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), Rahul Kharge, who also chairs the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, requested the cancellation of the land allotment intended for a skill development and research center.

The move comes amid a growing controversy surrounding the land deal and follows Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's decision to return a contentious land allotment made by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The opposition BJP had sharply criticized the Congress government for alleged misuse of power and nepotism, accusing it of extending undue favors to party members.

Rahul Kharge's decision to relinquish the land is seen as an attempt to avoid further controversy.

In his defense, Priyank Kharge, another of Mallikarjun Kharge’s sons and a member of the Karnataka Cabinet, took to social media platform X, where he refuted the BJP’s accusations. He emphasized that the Siddhartha Vihar Trust is a charitable and educational institution, not a private entity, and that the trust's decision to return the land was to avoid any distractions from its mission of education and social service.

In a pointed response to the BJP, Priyank Kharge highlighted the achievements of the trust, questioning why it faced criticism when other political appointments under the BJP regime had drawn less scrutiny. The row comes amid heightened political tensions in Karnataka, with both parties trading accusations over land allotment deals.