In response to the BJP’s accusations, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has defended the land allocation to the Siddhartha Vihara Trust, which is managed by his family. The BJP has alleged that the 5 acres of land, allocated under the SC quota for civic amenities, were improperly granted to a trust linked with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s family. Priyank Kharge dismissed these claims, asserting that the land allocation was legal and that the site is designated for civic amenities, not industrial purposes. He emphasized that the trust has been operational for over two decades, running educational institutions, and criticized the BJP for trying to malign his family for political gain. Kharge accused Lahar Singh Siroya of attempting to regain political relevance by making baseless allegations. “The problem with BJP is, when they do things illegally it’s okay, but even if we do things legally, they have a problem,” Kharge said. He challenged the BJP to specify the illegality, if any, in the land allocation, dismissing the claims as a political ploy.
