Bribery issue: Oppn Cong seeks K'taka CM's resignation

Bangalore, July 12 (UNI) The main Opposition Congress in the Karnataka Assembly today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in the wake of the bribery allegations against him and a CBI probe into the issue.

Raising the issue relating to the allegation made by BJP MLC Janardhan Reddy that Mr Kumaraswamy and Forests Minister C Chennigappa had received a bribe of Rs 150 crore from the mining lobby, the Congress members demanded that Mr Kumaraswamy step down owning moral responsibility.

They alleged that the government was vindictive towards the Opposition leaders.

Congress leader D K Shivakumar alleged that while the government had stopped mining activities in the Kanakapura region, illegal mining was rampant elsewhere in the state and the authorities were were keeping silent.

He demanded a public debate on Mr Reddy's allegation and wondered why the BJP had not initiated any action against him or accepted his charges. ''This is not a coalition government. This is nothing but a corrupt and collection government,'' he said.

Janata Dal (United) leader J C Madhuswamy and Republican Party of India leader S Rajendran also participated in the discussion and demanded clarification from the government on the issue. The discussion was inconclusive when the house was adjourned for the day.

In the Council, the Congress members continued their dharna in the well of the House for the third day demanding a discussion on the issue through an adjournment motion.

However, when the House assembled after lunch break, they relented from their tough stand and withdrew their dharna after Officiating Chairman Sachidananda Khot allowed a discussion on the issue under a different rule.

Initiating a discussion, Mr V R Sudarshan (Congress) demanded the immediate resignation of Mr Kumaraswamy as he had lost the moral right to continue in power in the wake of the allegation.

He said the Chief Minister was busy making statements on the issue outside, instead of making it inside the House.

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