Bribery charge: Kumaraswamy's ouster demanded

Bangalore, July 7 (UNI) Former Lok Sabha member and senior All India Progressive Janata Dal leader Kodandaramaiah today demanded that Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi oust Mr H D Kumaraswamy, facing serious bribery charges, from Chief Ministership.

Addressing a joint press conference along with JD(S) rebel Legislator B R Patil here, he released a memorandum to be submitted to the Governor, seeking the resignations of Mr Kumaraswamy, Home Minister M P Prakash and Forests Minister C Channigappa and sack them if they fail to respond.

Mr Kodandaramaiah said Bellary district BJP President Janardhana Reddy, MLC, had levelled serious allegations that the Chief Minister had collected over Rs 100 crore from those running illegal mining activities in Bellary district through Mr Channigappa.

He said the BJP Legislators in Bellary district opposed the transfer of a police officer from the district, who had taken the initiative to investigate a clash between rival gangs of mine operators.

Mr Patil termed the allegations as serious and demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court judge into the issue.

Otherwise, the AIPJD would take the issue to the people and launch an agitation against the Chief Minister, he warned.

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