Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 28: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday addressed several significant issues, including the conviction rate in SC/ST cases, reservation backlogs, and the alleged MUDA scam, during a meeting of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Awareness Committee. He also responded to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) notice sent to his wife, calling it “politically motivated.”
Speaking to the media, Siddaramaiah emphasized the need to improve the conviction rate in SC/ST cases, which had dropped from 10 percent to 7 percent. He stressed the importance of increasing this rate, adding that regular meetings should be held by police officials and District Commissioners (DCs) every three months to review and take necessary action.
Regarding the reservation issue and backlogs, the Chief Minister mentioned that he, along with the Chief Secretary, would hold a separate meeting to address the delays in appointments and vacancies across various departments.
On the alleged MUDA scam, Siddaramaiah responded to the ED notice sent to his wife, clarifying that the High Court had granted a stay on the notice, questioning the urgency of the investigation. He further stated that there were discussions about whether the case should be handed over to the CBI. Siddaramaiah called the entire MUDA case politically driven and argued that the ED’s actions were motivated by political interests. “I’m confident that I will get justice,” he added, referring to the pending court decision.