Cong demands K'taka CM's resignation, CBI probe

Bangalore, Aug 23 (UNI) The main opposition Congress in Karnataka today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in the wake of suspended BJP legislator G Janardhana Reddy releasing CDs to substantiate the Rs 150 crore bribery charge against him and sought a CBI probe into the entire episode.

When contacted by UNI here, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly N Dharam Singh said Mr Kumaraswamy has lost moral right to continue in power and should step down immediately.

He said the only option before the Chief Minister was to face a CBI probe.

Mr Singh criticised the BJP for trying to silence its legislator from coming out with the truth in the illegal mining issue. ''The real colour of the BJP has been exposed now,'' he added.

The Congress would intensify its state-wide agitation against the Kumaraswamy government if it failed to order a CBI inquiry into the issue immediately, he warned.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Mallikarjuna Kharge, who was on a state-wide tour, said only a CBI inquiry could dig out the truth.

Criticising Mr Kumaraswamy's stand on the exposure, he said if he was really innocent he should not hesitate to refer the bribery charge to the CBI and come out clean.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H K Patil urged governor T N Chaturvedi to initiate process to sack Mr Kumaraswamy, if he did not resign within 24 hours.

Talking to reporters here, he said ''Karnataka is known for its decent polity and Chief Ministers in the past have given a better administration. This is a humiliation to the people of Karnataka and they will not tolerate it.'' He too demanded the resignation of Mr Kumaraswamy and a CBI probe.

Mr Reddy released evidences such as CDs, audio tapes and some documents to the media at Bellary to prove his charge that Mr Kumaraswamy and Forests Minister C Chennigappa had taken a bribe of Rs 150 crore from the mining lobby in Bellary district.

UNI TEAM-RG SI VV1845