Bengaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah Monday demanded a public apology from BJP and JD(S) after the Supreme Court upheld the Karnataka high court’s decision to quash an Enforcement Directorate (ED) notice issued to his wife BM Parvathi in connection with the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.“If BJP and JD(S) functionaries have even a shred of dignity and self-respect left, they must immediately offer a public apology,” Siddaramaiah said. Siddaramaiah pointed out that besides “continuously making baseless allegations” against him and his family, BJP and JD(S) held a padaytara from Bengaluru to Mysuru seeking an investigation into the case.Siddaramaiah welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict, saying: “The SC’s historic order dismissing ED’s appeal seeking to investigate my wife, Parvathi, is a resounding blow to the central govt. Throughout my long political career, I have always bowed before the Constitution and the law. The SC has upheld and protected this belief through its verdict.”Accusing BJP and JD(S) of “weaponizing” investigative agencies to target him, Siddaramaiah said, “BJP and its ally JD(S), unable to confront me politically, have misused constitutional investigative agencies like CBI and ED to fabricate a false case against my wife. The harassment inflicted through such politically motivated actions is deeply deplorable. I will never forget the mental agony and harassment that my family and I endured because of this.“Siddaramaiah added that the SC’s remarks personally resonated with him and reflected a broader sentiment among the public. “What the SC has said truly echoes my view — political battles must be fought using the electorate, not by misusing constitutional agencies like ED,” he said. These words reflect the opinion of every conscientious Indian who believes in the Constitution. This verdict has brought peace and restored faith in the judiciary among all those who, over the last 10-11 years, have suffered due to the misuse of the I-T, CBI, and ED by the central govt and BJP in their pursuit of political vendetta.“He added: “After this eye-opening order, PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah must wake up and restore the autonomy that these institutions are meant to have and cleanse themselves of their sins.”
