Siddaramaiah faces backlash after Congress worker removes his shoes
What's the story
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is facing criticism after a video surfaced online showing a Congress worker removing his shoes during a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday.
The incident took place as several leaders gathered to honor Mahatma Gandhi on his 155th birth anniversary.
In the video, the worker can be seen holding the Indian flag in one hand while bending down to take off Siddaramaiah's shoes.
Accusations
BJP accuses Congress of disrespecting national flag
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka shared the video on social media, accusing the Congress party and Siddaramaiah of disrespecting the country and its national flag.
"The Congress party has no respect for the country and does not respect the national flag," wrote BJP Karnataka in a post slamming Siddaramaiah.
Netizens also expressed their disapproval, with many viewing it as an insult to national pride while others demanded an apology from Siddaramaiah.
Land allotment
Siddaramaiah embroiled in Mysuru Urban Development Authority controversy
This incident adds to the controversies surrounding Siddaramaiah, who is already under scrutiny for his alleged involvement in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.
Allegations have been made that 14 compensatory plots in prime areas of Mysuru's Vijayanagar Layout were unfairly allotted to his wife, Parvathi BM.
These plots were given in exchange for land acquired by MUDA, raising concerns about potential favoritism.
Plot return
Siddaramaiah's wife relinquishes ownership of controversial plots
In response to the mounting scrutiny, Parvathi recently decided to relinquish ownership of the 14 plots. This decision led MUDA to cancel the sale deeds for these properties.
Despite these developments, Siddaramaiah has dismissed the allegations and vowed not to resign over this matter. He stated that he did not benefit from the land allotment and distanced himself from any comparison with former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's controversy.