BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi says ₹6,000 per voter statement was twisted
The Hindu
Former Minister and BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi says, “I did not mean bribe, I meant development”
A few hours after Congress leaders filed a complaint with the Bengaluru police against BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi for his alleged statements about planning to bribe voters at the rate of ₹6,000 per vote, the former Minister denied making such statements.
“It is true that I said that we will give ₹6,000 per head. But that was not meant to be a bribe for voting. It was my measure of per capita funds that I would release for the constituency for its development. My statements were twisted by the media,” he said.
He told journalists that he never meant to bribe voters. “I am a six-time MLA. I have never stooped to such levels to influence voters. I have only exposed Congress leaders like Lakshmi Hebbalkar who were openly bribing voters. Why did the Congress leaders, who complained against me, not mention that I had spoken about Ms Hebbalkar’s bribing the voters with gift boxes?”
He alleged that KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar was involved in the sleaze CD too. “He was feeling vengeful about D.K. Shivakumar as he had destroyed his family life. I will not keep quite. I will teach him a lesson. I know that he is involved. I have audio clips to prove that,” he claimed.
“I have asked the Karnataka government to transfer the sleaze CD case against him. I have asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hand over the case to CBI. Only a CBI probe can expose the real offenders in that case,” he said.
“When the local police raided the house of one of the accused in Devanahalli village, they found 90-110 such CDs featuring VIPs, politicians and officers. The police hushed it up as they found one CD pertaining to the investigation and raids. All this will come out in a CBI probe,” he said.
He wants the probe into the alleged involvement of former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa in the death of Santosh Patil, a contractor from Hindalga, to be transferred to CBI. “I suspect that D.K. Shivakumar is involved in this case too. He and his supporters had forced the young contractor to end his life, only to bring a bad name to the BJP. We are keeping quiet as it would be an embarrassment to the party. But I insist that the Hindalga case should be transferred to the CBI,” he said.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.