Make way for us and we will probe BJP ‘scams’, Ashok challenges CM
The Hindu
Challenging the Congress government to probe the 21 scams that took place during the BJP dispensation in the past, as alleged by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on Saturday said the saffron party was itself willing to conduct an investigation if the Chief Minister relinquished his post and the party came to power.
Challenging the Congress government to probe the 21 scams that took place during the BJP dispensation in the past, as alleged by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on Saturday said the saffron party was itself willing to conduct an investigation if the Chief Minister relinquished his post and the party came to power.
Accusing the government of shielding people involved in the financial irregularities at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd., Mr. Ashok said: “The Chief Minister has alleged that 21 scams have taken place during BJP rule. You make way for us and we will investigate the 21 scams.”
“You have been in power for the last 15 months. Why did you take so much time to investigate these scams? You have not even been able to probe the 40% commission allegations that you levelled against us. Do you need so much time to probe? You should have done it by now,” he said at the press conference.
Charging the government with trying to hush up the Valmiki corporation scam, the BJP leader alleged that the Chief Minister was “blaming the corporation and Union Bank of India officials to shield Congress MLA B. Nagendra, who resigned as Tribal Welfare Minister, and Valmiki corporation chairman Basanagouda Daddal.”
He alleged that large sums have gone to Congress leaders in Karnataka and Telangana, where the Congress is in power. “The mask of a clean image that he [Mr. Siddaramaiah] was wearing for the last 40 years has fallen now,” he claimed.
“The Chief Minister is issuing clarification through advertisements and using caste as a shield. Let the Constitution be amended so that no accusation can be made against a particular caste. The Chief Minister is speaking like this because he is shocked over being exposed... He is blaming officials for everything,” Mr. Ashok added.
Meanwhile, responding to BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra’s statement that the Chief Minister was “threatening” them, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that he was merely presenting the facts.
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