Union Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi criticized the Karnataka government for reportedly assigning civic amenity (CA) sites, designated for public infrastructure, to Congress party offices. Joshi, in New Delhi, expressed concern over more than 24 CA sites being granted at discounted rates for constructing Congress offices, emphasizing that this action misuses public resources.
He highlighted that the allocated land, valued at crores of rupees and originally intended for public amenities like parks and hospitals, was diverted for constructing “Congress Bhavans,” which he deemed a betrayal of public interest. Joshi further accused the Congress of neglecting the housing needs of the poor while assigning public land for party offices, questioning the legitimacy of such allocations.
Joshi demanded a review of these allotments, labeling the Congress’ treatment of public property as a personal asset. He urged for the cancellation of the alleged assignments and cautioned that the BJP would initiate protests if corrective measures were not taken promptly. The Karnataka BJP has alleged that 31 plots designated for civic purposes were diverted for party use, asserting that this action constitutes a misuse of public land.
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy also criticized the move, emphasizing that public land should not be utilized for political party offices at various administrative levels. Despite these allegations, the Karnataka government has not issued an official response to the claims.
