The Karnataka winter assembly session in Belagavi has once again been overshadowed by controversies, this time involving a waqf land bribery allegation and the COVID-19 procurement scam. Minister Priyank Kharge accused BJP leader BY Vijayendra of offering a bribe, a charge that Vijayendra and the alleged recipient have denied. Meanwhile, the BJP is gearing up to counter Congress over the COVID-19 scam FIR, leaving North Karnataka issues sidelined.
The purpose of holding the legislature session in Belagavi is to address North Karnataka’s pressing concerns. However, political clashes have derailed the session’s agenda, as seen in the truncated first week. Now, the second week is expected to be consumed by Priyank Kharge’s accusation that Vijayendra — on behalf of his father and former CM BS Yediyurappa — offered a bribe of Rs 150 crore to suppress a 2012 report on encroachment of 23,000 acres of waqf land valued at Rs 4 lakh crore.
Former Karnataka State Minorities Commission chairman Anwar Manippady, the alleged recipient, denied the claims on Sunday, instead accusing Congress leaders of attempting to bribe him, a move that has turned the tables. Vijayendra dismissed the accusation as “illogical,” stating, “Why would I offer such a huge amount to protect Congress leaders? We will not rest until Priyank apologizes.” Priyank, however, stood firm, saying his statements were based on documented remarks by Manippady, promising to place evidence in the House.
The BJP also plans to attack Congress over the Covid-19 procurement FIR, filed on Saturday based on Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission’s interim report, which accused Yediyurappa and former health minister B Sreeramulu of irregularities during the pandemic.
Despite the lengthy assembly agenda, which includes discussions on 11 bills tabled last week, debates on the waqf issue and rain-related damages are expected to take precedence. The government also plans to make a suo motu statement on the deaths of lactating mothers in Ballari, a topic BJP wants to debate.
This shift in focus has angered North Karnataka legislators, as the Business Advisory Committee had promised to prioritize issues related to the region on Monday. “The Speaker assured us that North Karnataka’s concerns would be discussed, yet they are absent from the agenda,” said BJP chief whip Doddanagouda Patil. “We will insist that he honor his word.”
