The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : CBI probe sought into bribery allegations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 14, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

CBI probe sought into bribery allegations

Staff Reporter

Kumaraswamy should have filed a complaint against BJP MLC: B.R. Patil

BANGALORE: B.R. Patil, who has been suspended from the Janata Dal (Secular) and has aligned with the All-India Progressive Janata Dal, joined the Congress members in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday in demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the bribery allegations against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Participating in the discussion on the bribery charge, he wanted to know why Mr. Kumaraswamy did not file a defamation suit and file a complaint against BJP MLC Janardhana Reddy for blackmailing him by levelling baseless charges. Mr. Kumaraswamy was allegedly intimidating entrepreneurs such as Managing Director the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Ltd. and mine owners, which was not in the interests of the State, he said.

Expressing his displeasure over the waste of precious time of the legislature during the past two weeks, Mr. Patil reminded members that it cost Rs. 2.5 lakh an hour for holding a sitting of the Legislative Assembly and Rs. 90,000 an hour for that of the Legislative Council. The Exchequer had lost several crores of rupees. Mr. Reddy had the evidence to prove the bribery allegations, and an inquiry should be ordered on that basis, he added.

His reference to the Janata Dal (S) president H.D. Deve Gowda led to exchanges between him and Mr. Kumaraswamy.

Leader of Opposition N. Dharam Singh and M. Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the coalition partners for what they called lack of coordination of the parties on all issues, including the mining scandal.

Listing the Chief Ministers and Ministers who had resigned on the basis of allegations, Mr. Kharge demanded that Mr. Kumaraswamy resign and face a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. He could return to power if he was held not guilty.

They said Mr. Reddy had not withdrawn his allegations against the Chief Minister, and the coalition partners were allegedly trying to silence him. Neither the Chief Minister nor Minister for Forests C. Chennigappa had denied the allegations.

They warned the Government against attempting to intimidate Opposition members and leaders.

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