Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah: Later, Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) formally asks the Governor for his consent to submit a Fee schedule. Union heavy industries minister opposes with HD Kumaraswamy appearing defiant and saying he was not “afraid.”
Lokayukta is planning to sue JD(S) state president Kumaraswamy for illegal renewal of contract mining lease in 2007 when he was the chief minister. “Why are they speeding up now? If they want to scare me, I won’t,” Coomaraswamy told a news conference.
The preliminary report prepared by senior IFS officer UV Singh named three former Chief Ministers-SM Krishna, Late N Dharam Singh and him- and the report doesnot recommend any punishment but leaves it to the government’s discretion. He accused Congress of trying to implicate him in an old case. Although Krishna was with the Congress when he was CM, he later joined BJP.
He also recalled that one district councillor had accused him of taking rs 150 crore from owners of companies which were said to be favored bu him. “I have declared that I will fight this accusation single-handedly,” he said adding that it was he who ordered Lokayukta to probe into it.
According to Kumaraswamy there are over 61 cases pending against CM Siddaramaiah in Lokayukta out of which investigation has yet not bee started in fifty cases. “If Siddaramaiah claims that his political life is an open book why is he worried about opposition targeting him?” asked Kumaraswamy.
“HDK is afraid the leader will nod”
Siddaramiah of Koppal has once again accused Governor Thawarchand Gehlot of discriminatory behavior in granting prosecution sanctions. He added that it was not his government but lokyuta police who sought sanctions for prosecuting Kumaraswamy thereby suggesting evidence against central minister.
“If circumstances permit him (Kumraswamy) arrestwe will do so without hesitation. He now fears the governor will impose sanctions.”
To this, Kumaraswamy retorted: “It takes a hundred Siddaramas (to arrest me).” To this, the Chief Minister said: “It is not 100 Siddaramas. Arrest Kumaras Wami’s is the police…one policeman is enough.
Siddaramaiah accused Kumaraswamy of making accusations without pursuing them to their “logical conclusion” and dismissed him as a “hit-and-run Swamy.”
