Bribery charge: JD (U) asks Kumaraswamy to step down

Bangalore, July 20 (UNI) The Janata Dal (United) in Karnataka today demanded that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy step down from power in the wake of BJP legislator G Janardhan Reddy reiterating the bribery charge against him and pave the way for others to form a non-Congress government in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Party State President B Somasekhar said the allegation made against Mr Kumaraswamy and his ministerial colleagues was serious in nature. ''There must be some truth in it as Mr Reddy says that he has documentary evidence to prove the charge,'' he added.

He said the people had lost faith in the JD (S)-BJP coalition government in the state in the wake of Mr Reddy's allegation. To regain their confidence, a CBI probe should be ordered into the entire episode. Mr Kumaraswamy had lost moral right to continue in office, he added.

He urged the Governor to take serious note of Mr Reddy's allegation and send a detailed report to the Centre.

Mr Somasekhar said the JD (U), which was extending issue-based support to non-Congress government, wanted the government to put an halt to all mining activities in Bellary. Indiscriminate mining activities in the district had led to several problems, including child labour, pollution and loss to state exchequer.

He said the state need not depend on the Centre to put an end to mining operations. There were enough provisions in the state laws to curb the activity, he added.

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