Bribery charge: BJP MLC dares Kumaraswamy to quit, face CBI probe

Bellary, Karnataka, July 20 (UNI) Continuing his tirade against Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, suspended Bharatiya Janata Party Legislator G Janardhan Reddy today dared him to quit his post and face a CBI probe into the allegation of taking Rs 150 crore bribe from the mining lobby.

Addressing reporters at his residence here, he came down heavily on the Chief Minister for ''shielding his corrupt'' Ministers and termed him a ''liar''.

''If he is so innocent, why is he afraid of handing over the case to the CBI. Let the central agency investigate the case and the truth will be brought to light. If the Chief Minister is not guilty, let him resign the post and face the probe,'' he said.

Mr Reddy said he was seeking legal opinion to file a defamation suit against Mr Kumaraswamy for calling him ''mentally unsound.'' My statements are not mere allegations, I will produce proof before the CBI if it takes up investigation. How can I give the proof to the Chief Minister when he has branded me mentally imbalanced,'' he asked.

Mr Reddy had created a furore a few days ago by levelling bribery allegations against the Chief Minister and a couple of his Ministerial colleagues. He subsequently retracted his statement following pressure from the party high command. However, the reprieve for the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government did not last long as Mr Reddy reiterated his earlier charge in the Legislative Council yesterday.

Reacting to the disciplinary action initiated against him by his party immediately after he reiterated his allegation in the Legislative Council yesterday, the MLC denied that he would switch loyalties and asserted that he would continue to be a true soldier of the BJP. ''Whatever action the high command initiates against me, I will continue to be in the party and serve it. There is no question of joining the Congress or any other party. I am fighting to protect the district from mafia as the district is gradually turning into a Bihar.'' Claiming that he was receiving threatening calls from JD(S) leaders, he alleged that Home Minister M P Prakash's son M P Ravindra and Kurugodu Legislator N Suryanarayana Reddy were behind the attack on MSPL mining company. However, their names had been deleted from the charge sheet and innocent people nailed.

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