Minority leader Anwar Manipaddy accuses Karnataka government of witch-hunting
The minorities leader claimed that a false case was being foisted on him "for exposing Congress leaders", who were allegedly involved in a scam relating to properties owned by the state Wakf Board.
Former chairman of the Karnataka State Minority Commission Anwar Manippady has lodged a complaint against State Women & Child Welfare Minister Umashree for "framing him" in the death of a girl under mysterious circumstances.
The minorities leader claimed that a false case was being foisted on him "for exposing Congress leaders", who were allegedly involved in a scam relating to properties owned by the state Wakf Board. The case relates to the disappearance and subsequent death of teenager named Reshma who underwent training sponsored by the Karnataka State Minorities Commission a few years ago in Dakshina Kannada district. The government has ordered a CID probe into the circumstances leading to the disappearance and death of the girl.
"I don't know who this Reshma is. It is shocking to read Umashree's statement that the girl's mysterious death occurred after she was sent to my residence to work. Umashree is on a witch hunt against me to suppress my fight against her party leaders, who have grabbed Wakf land. No Reshma or Salma worked in my house," the former state minorities commission chairman claimed and sought police protection.
In his complaint to Karnakata IGP, DGP Lalrokhuma Pachuau, Manippady has alleged that Umashree was "fabricating" documents to build up a case against him. He has also slapped a legal notice on the minister. The complaint comes as an embarrassment to the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state who has of late been under fire from public. The minister, Umashree, has also been criticised for her silence over rising instances of rapes in Bangalore.
When the BJP was in power in Karnataka (2008-2013), Manippady had submitted a report before the government on scams involving land owned by Wakf Board across the state. The report estimated the loss to the government at Rs 2.30 lakh crore and cited the role of prominent Congress leaders in the misuse of land. The then government had accepted his report.
"The present Congress government is planning to dismiss the report. Instead of taking action against the Congress leaders involved in the Wakf property scam, they are digging an old case to fix me. This is nothing but harassment," he alleged.