A video showing a Congress worker taking off Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s shoes while holding the Indian flag has led to criticism from the BJP. They accused the Congress leader of “insulting the nation’s pride.” This incident comes as Siddaramaiah faces allegations related to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam.

Thats SiddaSCAMaiyah for you. Immediately after flag hoisting, told his cadre to wear his shoes. Cadre tieing with national flag in hand. One hand in Flag pole till. Worst behaviour. INDI alliance #Siddaramaiah @erbmjha @MumbaichaDon @RShivshankar @Tejasvi_Surya @BJP4Karnataka pic.twitter.com/sQlcC0Yu8y

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— Naadhas (@mpgiri) October 2, 2024

Social Media Outrage

The video has upset many on social media, with people calling the act disrespectful and urging for better respect for the national flag. The incident happened during an event in Bengaluru to honor Mahatma Gandhi on his birthday, where Siddaramaiah was waiting while a Congress worker removed his shoes.

BJP’s Reaction

BJP leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy condemned the incident, calling it an insult and reflecting the “culture” of Congress. He stated on social media, “This is an insult to the Nation’s pride; Congress party leaders must apologize.”

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Siddaramaiah Under Investigation

Apart from the video issue, Siddaramaiah is being investigated by the Lokayukta and the Enforcement Directorate over claims regarding land deals in Mysuru. An activist has alleged that Siddaramaiah’s wife, BN Parvathi, received land as compensation improperly, costing the state about ₹45 crore.

The MUDA allocated 14 plots of land in Vijayanagar Phase 3 and 4 to Parvathi. Recently, they announced that she would return the plots, saying she was acting on her conscience. MUDA Commissioner AN Raghunandan confirmed they would cancel the sale deeds, but noted this is unrelated to the ongoing investigation.

Siddaramaiah’s Defense

Siddaramaiah defended himself, claiming the land was a gift from his wife’s brother. He questioned why he should resign if he did nothing wrong, stating that the land was de-notified by former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, not by him.

BY Vijayendra, the Karnataka BJP chief and Yediyurappa’s son, responded that returning the plots suggests Siddaramaiah is admitting his mistake.

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