Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday, 6 October demanded to know why the Karnataka government had not initiated a Lokayukta investigation into the Siddhartha Vihar Trust over allegations of irregularities in a government land allotment. Speaking to the media in Mulbagal, Kolar district, Kumaraswamy also levelled pointed criticism at the Congress government and directly targeted Karnataka Home, IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge and his family over the controversy.

The Core Allegations

Complainant Vijayraghava Marathe has alleged irregularities in the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) allotment of an 8,002-square-metre civic amenity site in Banashankari, Bengaluru. The complaint alleges that the Siddhartha Vihar Trust secured a 50 per cent concession by claiming Scheduled Caste (SC) status and allegedly colluded with officials to obtain the allotment. The trust is managed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, his wife, Minister Priyank Kharge, and other family members.

Kumaraswamy referred to a High Court order in the matter and questioned why the state government had still not moved to refer the case to the Lokayukta. He alleged that those who invoke the names of Buddha, Siddhartha, and Babasaheb Ambedkar should first address irregularities within their own families before criticising political opponents.

Kharge Family's Response

The Kharge family and their associates have denied all allegations. Minister Priyank Kharge has previously described the charges as baseless and as politically motivated attempts to damage his family's reputation. He has also stated that an aerospace land allotment referenced in the allegations had already been returned to the authorities.

Broader Political Attacks

Kumaraswamy did not limit his criticism to the land-allotment issue. He alleged that the Congress-led Karnataka government was misusing the police department by registering what he called false FIRs against opposition leaders and workers. He claimed that matters that ought to be placed before the Election Commission of India (ECI) were instead being converted into criminal cases — a charge the government has not yet formally responded to.

On the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) alliance, Kumaraswamy acknowledged that minor grassroots disagreements were natural in any coalition but welcomed BJP Karnataka State President B.Y. Vijayendra's suggestion that seat-sharing discussions could begin now. He added that final decisions would rest with the respective party leaderships, and dismissed reports of a possible alliance breakdown in Kolar district specifically.

Peripheral Ring Road and BDA Sites

The Union Minister also criticised the Karnataka government over the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, alleging that its policies favoured vested interests. He further claimed the government was attempting to raise funds through the sale of vacant BDA sites while neglecting the rights of ordinary citizens — an allegation that adds to a pattern of opposition attacks on the state administration's urban development decisions.

Drought Relief and Farmer Distress

Turning to the drought situation across Karnataka, Kumaraswamy said farmers were facing severe hardships and alleged that many had been forced to migrate in search of employment. He questioned how many beneficiaries had actually received the ₹2,000–₹2,500 drought-relief assistance announced by the state government, and criticised what he described as inconsistent figures submitted to the Centre at different times. He urged the government to prepare a comprehensive, unified action plan and ensure timely relief for affected farmers. MP Mallesh Babu, MLA Samruddhi Manjunath, and former MLA Chowdareddy Thoopalli were among those present at the media interaction.

With the BJP–JD(S) alliance calibrating its posture ahead of the next electoral cycle, the Siddhartha Trust controversy is poised to remain a focal point of opposition pressure on the Kharge family and the Congress government in Karnataka.