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Opposition says the report is a politically motivated conspiracy

The 7,000-page report submitted by Chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission Anwar Manippadi to the government on Monday, in which 38 leaders of different political parties have been indicted for misuse of over Rs. 2-lakh worth wakf properties, rocked the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. The Opposition, especially Muslim members, demanded that Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda order an investigation into the decades-old scam by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Relaxing the zero hour rule under which a member can only mention an incident of very recent occurrence, Speaker K.G. Bopaiah allowed a full-fledged debate. Even before Bharatiya Janata Party member C.T. Ravi could complete his submission and demand a serious investigation as it was a matter of deep concern, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah demanded that it be investigated by the CBI.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, his deputy T.B. Jayachandra, Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Revanna, Zamir Ahmed Khan (JD-S) and Qamarul Islam, Tanvir Sait, N.A. Haris, U.T. Khader and V. Srinivasa Prasad (all Congress) wanted Mr. Gowda to table the report in the House and take suitable action to recover the land. Mr. Haris, Mr. Khader and Syed Yasin (Congress) alleged that it was a “politically motivated conspiracy” to tarnish the image of Muslim leaders and demanded action against Mr. Manippady. Mr. Yasin termed it “psychological harassment” and said that the norms did not allow wakf property to be sold.

Supporting his party colleagues, Mr. Siddaramaiah alleged that the report was an attempt at character assassination as the commission had indicted leaders. Mr. Prasad said that the commission had based its report on 1,800 complaints involving 38 leaders including legislators, MPs, Ministers and IAS officials, both retired and serving.

If the report rocked the Legislative Assembly, it generated considerable heat in the Legislative Council too. Members of the Congress and the JD(S) objected to discussing the issue saying that the Chief Minister was yet to table the report in the Council and discussing the issue before that would create a ‘bad’ precedent.

When G. Madhusudan (BJP) demanded a comprehensive probe either by the Criminal Investigation Department or the Lokayukta, Congress and JD(S) members strongly objected to him reading out names mentioned in a media report. At this juncture, Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy intervened and asked Mr. Madhusudan not to name politicians.

‘Expunge names’

Leader of Opposition Motamma, Veeranna Mattikatti, V.R. Sudarshan of Congress and Basavaraj Horatti and M.C. Nanaiah of JD(S) urged Mr. Shankaramurthy to expunge the names read out by Mr. Madhusudan.

When the Opposition obstructed Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri from giving a reply on behalf of the government, BJP members came to his rescue. This resulted in a heated argument between the BJP and the Opposition.