Karnataka
G S Patil.
G S Patil, Congress MLA from Ron constituency in Gadag district, has stirred the political waters in Karnataka with his recent comments at a protest organised by the Ahinda Union in Gajendragad.
His statements have drawn significant attention, especially amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, where allegations have been levelled against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Patil took a strong stance against the Karnataka Governor’s decision to allow the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case. He described this move as a "conspiracy" orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hinting at potential unrest if such actions persist.
Patil went so far as to warn that the situation could escalate to the point where people might storm Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, drawing a parallel to recent events in Bangladesh.
"If such actions continue, the day is not far when people will storm PM's residence, similar to what happened in Bangladesh," Republic World quoted Patil.
He further urged BJP leaders to consider the implications of their actions, suggesting that their homes could be targeted in the same way if wrong decisions were made concerning the state.
As the chairman of Karnataka State Minerals Corporation, Patil’s words carry significant weight. During the protest, he criticised the Karnataka Governor's decision to green-light an investigation against Siddaramaiah, labelling it an attempt by BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders to destabilise the Congress-led state government.
Patil defended Siddaramaiah, emphasising his commitment to the welfare of the poor and backward communities and underscoring that the Chief Minister's political career has been spotless.
"Several irregularities occurred when the BJP was in power, and B S Yediyurappa even served jail time. People haven’t forgotten the controversies involving H D Kumaraswamy's family," Patil reminded the public, calling for a strong and united front in support of Siddaramaiah.
He further argued that those who have illegally amassed wealth are not facing consequences and that CM Siddaramaiah is being targeted over a "trivial reason".
This isn’t the first time the Governor’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders.
Earlier, MLC Ivan D’Souza had also condemned the Governor’s actions, comparing the situation to that of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a comparison that had already caused a stir in Karnataka’s political circles.
In response to Patil’s statements, opposition leader R Ashoka criticised the provocative nature of his remarks, stressing that such statements against constitutional authorities are inappropriate. Ashoka questioned why Congress leaders were inciting unrest, urging for the maintenance of peace in Karnataka.
The MUDA case, which involves allegations of illegal land acquisition and claims of compensatory plots being allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, has led to considerable political upheaval.
With a hearing scheduled in the Karnataka High Court on 29 August, Siddaramaiah has sought to overturn the Governor’s order, further intensifying the political drama.