Bengaluru: The Congress party has once again come under fire for allegedly using political power to further its organisational agenda rather than serve the public interest. The latest controversy centres on the Congress Bhavan Trust, which has been accused of attempting to grab prime government-owned lands marked for civic welfare across multiple districts for its party offices.
According to the allegations, the Congress Bhavan Trust of Karnataka has applied for land in multiple municipal areas, including Devanahalli, Haliyala, Chincholi, and others.
In its proposals, the Trust has stated its intentions to use the land for skill development programs, such as mobile repair training, computer literacy courses, and tailoring workshops. While these activities may seem legitimate on the surface, critics argue that the intent is not just limited to civic welfare but to further the Congress party’s political interests.
One of the most controversial applications comes from the Devanahalli Municipality, where the Trust has applied for 6,841.97 square meters of land in the Azmal colony.
Similarly, in Chincholi and Haliyala, the Congress Bhavan Trust has applied for public land to conduct workshops, training programs, and social welfare events.
These areas, which have always been reserved for public infrastructure and development, are now being eyed by the Trust for party-centric purposes.
The questionable legitimacy of these land transfers has raised alarm among citizens and opposition parties.
Furthermore, allegations have surfaced that Congress leaders, including D.K. Shivakumar, the Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, have directly intervened in the process, pressuring municipal authorities to approve these land proposals.
Critics claim that this move is part of the Congress’s broader strategy to solidify their influence at the grassroots level and gain political mileage through public resources.
A particularly glaring example of this misuse of power is seen in the approval of a 2-acre plot in Tumkur for the construction of a Congress Bhavan. The land, which was earmarked for public use, was granted to the Congress Trust at a significantly reduced price, a mere fraction of its market value, raising concerns about corruption and preferential treatment.
These decisions, made under CM Siddiramaiah government, are seen as a violation of earlier government policies, which had strictly prohibited the allocation of public land to political organizations for personal or party use.
The Congress party’s actions are not limited to land allocations. In several instances, the Trust has managed to secure public properties intended for social welfare, such as plots meant for the construction of housing for marginalized communities and for public utilities.
Moreover, the fact that many of these decisions have been taken without public consultation or proper legal procedures has raised questions about transparency and accountability. Citizens are now demanding that the government put a stop to the illegal land acquisitions and investigate whether these approvals were made under undue political influence.
The opposition has slammed these actions as an abuse of power and public resources. BJP leaders have called for a thorough investigation into the land allotments and have demanded the cancellation of all land grants to the Congress Bhavan Trust. They argue that public land should serve the needs of the people, not be used for political gains.
