Guv Krishna dismisses allegations as 'utterly false'

Mumbai, Oct 29 (UNI) Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna today 'rubbished' allegations levelled against him by a section of the media in Bangalore that he was 'playing a direct role in party politics' in Karnataka, saying that they were ''utterly false and malicious''.

The newspapers in Bangalore alleged that Mr Krishna had visited the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall to attend the Congress party meeting, held in a room of the Hall. They alleged that he was playing a direct role in the party politics of Karnataka.

Mr Krishna, in an official statement here, said ''The allegation that I came to Bangalore to indulge in party politics is malicious and utterly false. My visit to Karnataka from October 27 to 30 was decided well in advance. The purpose of the visit was to fulfil my commitments to two social organisations that had invited me for their programmes. The visit had been approved by the President of India.'' He said as scheduled, he attended the musical programme 'Visions of India' by violin maestro Dr L Subramanium at the Gayatri Vihar, Palace Ground, Bangalore on the evening of October 27.

''At no point, I visited the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall to attend 'Congress party meetings in a room at the Hall' or played 'a direct role in party politics'' as has been alleged in the press report, he clarified. The allegation is, therefore, mischievous and intended to mislead the people,'' he said.

He added although his visit to Karnataka was an official one, he treated it as ''private and made all the expenses pertaining to the visit from his personal account and scrupulously avoided meeting any politician or party leaders''.

UNI