Punish my family if found guilty: Deve Gowda

Bangalore, Aug 9: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) National President H D Deve Gowda today said his family members, including his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, were liable to be punished, if found guilty in the Rs 150 crore bribery issue.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said the judicial probe ordered into the bribery allegation levelled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC G Janardhana Reddy was agreed to by all members of the State Assembly. It's terms of reference covered the role of ministers and officials. Anyone having evidence could place it before the Commission of Inquiry and if these evidences went against his family members, they should be punished according to law.

Asked if the corruption charges had caused damage to his family, he said the acutal damage would only be caused, if evidences substantiated the charges. Otherwise people would teach a suitable lesson to those who conspired against his family members, he added.

On whether the JD(S)-BJP coalition would complete its term, Mr Gowda said it was for the legislators to decide. They had chalked out a Common Minimum Programme and it was for them to carry on with it. ''I never conspired to have this coalition government and the BJP leaders are right in telling that they need not consult me,'' he remarked.

Mr Gowda brushed aside remarks made by party national leaders Surendra Mohan and Veerendra Kumar that the party had become 'inactive' in the recent past under his leadership.

UNI