Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused BJP State President BY Vijayendra of attempting to bribe Anwar Manippady, the former Minority Commission Chairman, with ₹150 crore to suppress investigations into Waqf property encroachments.
The Chief Minister called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the allegations and criticized the BJP leadership for corruption within its ranks.
Shocking revelations! Anwar Manippady, the former Minority Commission Chairman under the BJP government, has exposed that @BYVijayendra tried to bribe him with ₹150 crore to suppress investigations into Wakf property encroachments. Anwar Manippady has directly written to PM…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 14, 2024
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Siddaramaiah wrote, “Shocking revelations! Anwar Manippady, the former Minority Commission Chairman under the BJP government, has exposed that @BYVijayendra tried to bribe him with ₹150 crore to suppress investigations into Waqf property encroachments. Anwar Manippady has directly written to PM Narendra Modi about this corruption.”
He further claimed that Vijayendra visited Manippady’s house during B.S. Yediyurappa’s tenure as Chief Minister and offered the bribe. According to Siddaramaiah, Manippady refused the offer, sent Vijayendra away, and reported the incident to both PM Modi and the BJP President.
Siddaramaiah questioned PM Modi’s silence, citing his “Na khaunga, na khane doonga” (I will neither indulge in corruption nor allow others to do so) slogan. He accused the BJP of turning Karnataka into its “ATM” and shielding corrupt leaders.
“What happened to Modi’s grand ‘Na khaunga, na khane doonga’ promise? His silence on this explosive allegation raises suspicions and several questions. Why is the BJP leadership shielding Vijayendra and others involved in the Waqf property loot?” he asked.
The Karnataka Chief Minister also linked these allegations to other controversies, including Basangouda Patil Yatnal’s claim of paying ₹2,000 crore to secure B.S. Yediyurappa’s Chief Ministership. He argued these instances point to a pattern of corruption under BJP leadership in Karnataka.
“From COVID procurement scams to Waqf property looting, skeletons are tumbling out of the BJP’s closet in Karnataka. Instead of answering these allegations, BJP is resorting to baseless accusations against our leaders to divert attention,” Siddaramaiah added.
Demanding action, Siddaramaiah called on PM Modi to order a CBI inquiry into the allegations. “The people of Karnataka deserve answers, not cover-ups,” he stated.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge also criticized PM Modi for selectively targeting the state government while ignoring allegations within his own party. He remarked, “PM @narendramodi makes speeches on a non-existent Excise Department transfer scam by Govt of Karnataka in Maharashtra but remains silent when his own party MLAs and spokespersons accuse their State BJP President BY Vijayendra of massive corruption.”
Kharge further alleged that the BJP has shifted from Modi’s slogan of “Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga” to “Sab Milke Khaaenge” (Everyone will eat together).
“The BJP needs to come clean on their party spokesperson’s statement,” Kharge concluded, urging accountability from the party.