Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has so far adamantly rejected all calls for his resignation after an FIR was lodged against him with respect to the alleged MUDA scam, was pleasantly surprised on October 3.
Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, a senior JD(S) leader and Chairman of the Party’s Audit Committee defended Mr Siddaramaiah at the inaugural event of the Dasara celebrations atop Chamundi Hills, Mysuru.
Mr Gowda, in response to the resignation demands of Mr Siddaramaiah said those MPs and ministers facing FIR’s should tear their filings in the Parliament if they have any ghost to quit the House.
“If one has to resign after an FIR is registered against them, many people including the leader of opposition in legislative assembly R. Ashok and leaders in JD(S) and congress will have to resign,” Mr. Gowda said before proceeding to ask if Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy would resign if there was a call for his resignation.
“While it is true that the governor and the Court have recommended for an inquiry, it is very important to understand that there is no law which says that any person under inquiry must resign or that he should be jailed.”
Mr Gowda requested the leaders of Karnataka and the Centre to refrain from asking for resignation of Mr Siddaramaiah and instead direct their energy on development activities.
“Is it possible for Mr Siddaramiah who brought the congress into power by winning 136 MLAs of the party to simply resign when neither the court ordered him to step down or the Governor’s orders gave any reference about stepping down.”
Giving such circumstances it doesn’t talk about the welfare of democracy if working people are required to step down Mr Gowda asked all the constituents who are asking for Mr Siddaramiah’s resignation to respect the legal power and the court in this concern.
Ire at television media
Mr Gowda pointed his guns towards the television media due to concentrating on one particular case of rape murder or a particular FIR for three months. He also told the media to help cut down on the report without focus aiming to inculcate values and skills in the youth.
In his turn, Chief Minister Siddaramiah, who later addressed the participants in the event, mentioned that he drew power from the words of Mr Gowda. While also expressing that Mr Gowda was also in the MUDA. “He knows what is the truth. Even though he is in a different party, he’s trying to be honest. This Mr. Siddaramaiah expressed.”
When he maintained that he had done no wrong, Mr Siddaramaiah said it has been 40 years since he became a Minister for the first time in August 1984. “There is no way that I would have been active in politics for this long if I carried a guilt of any of wrongdoing.”
On such a weighty issue Mr Siddaramaiah had faith in the courts and without hesitation, quoted Milahindra saying – ‘satyameva jayate’ which means all attempts to pursue ‘truth’ will be successful.
As for referring to speech of Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah during the Dasara festival inauguration where he spoke in support of not efficient elected government by any means, Mr Siddaramaiah added, Congress party has been given an opportunity to rule over Karnataka for five years. ‘We will be there for a period of five years, and then thereafter, commence a remedy for our developing activities,’ said Mr Siddaramaiah.