Mysuru urban development body chief Mari Gowda resigned Wednesday – citing health concerns – amid an ongoing state and federal investigation into land scam allegations against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife, and other members of his family.

Mr Gowda was a long-time associate of the Chief Minister and worked with him since 1983; he was made President of the Mysuru Taluk Panchayat in 1995, Vice President of the Zilla Panchayat in 2000, and promoted to the top post eight years later.

Siddaramaiah has not responded to the resignation so far.

The Chief Minister faces cases filed by the Mysuru branch of the Lokayukta, or the state anti-corruption body, and the Enforcement Directorate, a federal agency. He also faces charges of destroying evidence; a complaint to this effect was filed earlier this month with the ED.

Specifically, Siddaramaiah faces claims that his wife was allotted 14 plots of land – which he has said was a gift from her brother – in the upmarket Mysuru area of Vijayanagar as compensation for land elsewhere – holding a far lower value – taken for infrastructure projects.

Anti-corruption activists alleged this caused a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state.

Earlier this month the Mysuru Urban Development Authority agreed to take back those 14 plots from the Chief Minister’s wife, BN Parvathi, but said this would have no bearing on the investigation into the allotments and against the veteran Congress leader.

BN Parvathi had written to MUDA saying she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it as the allegations against her husband are “politically motivated”.

Shortly after her letter, Siddaramaiah said his wife was a “victim of the politics of hatred against me” and had been subject to “psychological torture”. “I respect her decision,” he said.

The MUDA land scam allegations were spotlit after the Karnataka High Court cleared Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot’s order sanctioning prosecution of the Congress leader.

A trial court framed charges the next day, with the Lokayukta beginning its investigation almost immediately and the Enforcement Directorate filing its case shortly afterwards.

Siddaramaiah has also faced a flood of criticism from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally, the Janata Dal Secular, which includes demands he resign and for the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the case. The CBI, however, will need the state government’s permission to do so, since general consent to the federal agency has been withdrawn.

Faced with attacks from the BJP and jabs from within the Congress, Siddaramaiah has, so far, refused to stand down, pointing out he has not been convicted of any charges as yet.

“I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally,” he said after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor’s sanction.

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The central government is set to raise the dearness allowance (DA) for its over crore employees and pensioners by 3 per cent, taking the total to 45 per cent from 38 per cent. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting this morning, weeks ahead of Diwali.

This comes as a major relief to central government employees amid the festive season.

DA is given to government employees and pensioners to compensate them for increasing prices. Revised periodically twice a year, this allowance is calculated on the basis of the latest consumer price index for industrial workers.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised the need for territorial integrity and cooperation based on mutual respect, in his remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Pakistan on Wednesday.

In the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan since Sushma Swaraj’s 2015 tour, Jaishankar called terrorism, extremism and separatism “three evils”. He added that cooperation between countries is built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas.

Jaishankar mentioned the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, along with the Covid pandemic, to state that the summit comes at a “difficult time in world affairs”. “Disruptions of various kinds – ranging from extreme climate events to supply chain uncertainties and financial volatility – impact growth and development. Debt is a serious concern, even as the world falls behind in achieving Sustainable Development targets. Technology holds great promise, as well as raising a new host of concerns. How should the members of the SCO respond to these challenges?” he said.

The EAM also stressed the need for multi-faceted regional cooperation, to drive growth and conflict prevention. “If activities are characterised by terrorism, trade won’t be encouraged,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar arrived on Tuesday for his two-day Pakistan visit at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase, where he was welcomed by Ilyas Mehmood Nizami, Director General (South Asia) of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Children dressed in traditional attire presented him with flower bouquets. Later, he had a brief interaction with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today at an official dinner held for all the summit attendees.

The two-day meeting of SCO CHG, the second highest forum within the SCO, is being chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif as the current chair of the Council. The meeting’s focus is on the trade and economic agenda of the organisation.

Mr Sharif, meanwhile, called for the expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to enhance regional cooperation. “Flagship projects like the Belt and Road Initiative of President Xi Jinping…should be expanded focusing on developing road, rail and digital infrastructure that enhances integration and cooperation across our region,” Sharif said in his speech as the chair of the meeting.

The BRI is a $1 trillion plan for global infrastructure and energy networks that China launched a decade ago to connect Asia with Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes. Sharif said CPEC would also help enhance cooperation, adding that 40 percent of the world’s population lived in SCO’s 10 full member states.

Mr Sharif also called on the leaders to use the SCO meeting to “exchange ideas, share best practices and forge concrete action plans that will benefit our economies and societies”. He expressed his hope for “wonderful outcomes that will emerge from our in-depth deliberations”. “Our collaboration, joint teamwork expands academic and tourism linkages, poverty alleviation, empowerment of women and youth across the SCO region are reflection and commitment of our determination to promote prosperity through unity,” he said.

The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”. The group claims to represent 40% of the world’s population and about 30 percent of its GDP. Pakistan became a full member of the SCO at its 2017 summit in Kazakhstan.

– With inputs from agencies