Bribery charge: Congress demands dismissal of K'taka Govt

Bangalore, July 20 (UNI) The Congress in Karnataka today submitted a memorandum to Governor T N Chaturvedi seeking the immediate dismissal of the JD (S)-BJP coalition government in the wake of BJP legislator G Janardhan Reddy reiterating the bribery charge against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Talking to waiting newspersons after submitting the memorandum to the Governor at the Raj Bhavan here, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Mallikarjun Kharge said the party also sought a CBI probe into the allegation. It had also attached to the memorandum copies of press reports and documents related to Mr Reddy's allegation.

He said ''It is clear from this prolonged sordid episode that corruption is rampant at high places in the government.'' Mr Reddy had created a furore in the Legislative Council yesterday when he repeated the bribery 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.

Mr Kharge informed that the party leaders would soon meet to chalk out the future course of action.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and suspended JD (S) leader Siddaramaiah, who also accompanied the Congress leaders to the Raj Bhavan, said the state government had no other option but to order an inquiry as Mr Reddy had said that he had documentary evidences to prove his charge.

''It is a serious allegation against the Chief Minister...the state has not witnessed such incidents in the past,'' he added.

Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly N Dharam Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Council H K Patil were part of the delegation which came to submit the memorandum.

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