JD(S)-BJP combine bows to Oppn pressure for probe

Bangalore, July 20 (UNI) With political parties mounting pressure on the JD(S)-BJP Government in Karnataka for ordering a probe into the bribery charge against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, the Coordination Committee of the ruling parties today recommended an inquiry into the allegation.

However, a decision on the nature of the inquiry had been left to the Cabinet, after Home Minister M P Prakash sought legal opinion on the issue, JD(S) leader and Transport Minister C Cheluvarayaswamy told newspersons after the meeting here.

It was also decided to initiate criminal or defamation proceedings against suspended BJP Legislator G Janardhana Reddy, who plunged the State into a political turmoil by reopening the bribery issue in the Legislative Council yesterday and accusing the Chief Minister and two of his Cabinet colleagues of collecting Rs 150 crore from iron ore miners in Bellary district.

Earlier, Mr Reddy dared Mr Kumaraswamy to resign and face a CBI inquiry into the allegation. He accused Mr Kumaraswamy of ''shielding corrupt Ministers''. ''My statements are not mere allegations, I will produce proof before the CBI if it takes up investigation,'' he said in Bellary.

Even as the JD(S) accused the Congress of stage managing the episode, the Congress leaders trooped to the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to Governor T N Chaturvedi, seeking the immediate dismissal of the Government. The Janata Dal (United), All India Progressive Janata Dal, CPI and the Samajwadi Party also joined the Congress in seeking the resignation of Mr Kumaraswamy.

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