BJP MLC reiterates bribe charge against Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, July 19 (UNI) The five-and-a-half-month-old JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in Karnataka ran into rough weather today, with the controversial BJP Member of Legislative Council G Janardhana Reddy asserting the bribery charge against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and the latter declining to oblige the Opposition demand for his resignation.

Mr Reddy created a furore in the Upper House when he repeated the charge against Mr Kumaraswamy and his Ministerial colleagues.

The MLC had earlier alleged that Forests Minister C Chennigappa had collected Rs 150 crore from mine owners in Bellary district on behalf of the Chief Minister. However, he had then denied that he had named the Chief Minister in the scandal.

Later talking to newspersons here, Mr Reddy said he was pressurised by senior leaders of the party State unit not to make a statement in the House yesterday. The BJP reacted quickly to the situation and suspended Mr Reddy for violating the party discipline and reported the entire developments to the national leadership for further action.

Mr Kumaraswamy, at a hurriedly convened news conference, ruled out resignation as demanded by the Opposition and declared that he was ready to face any type of inquiry into the charges. ''Just because the Opposition leaders demanded resignation, I cannot oblige them.'' Stating that there was no threat to the coalition Government, he observed that it was for the BJP to take further action against the member who had violated the party discipline.

Senior BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, were not immediately available for comments.

The Chief Minister was likely to discuss the issue at the coordination committee, convened tonight.

(Eds: Here, pick up suitably from earlier series) UNI Team-VK GD YA DB2043