Kumaraswamy vows to bring out more proof against Yeddyurappa

Bangalore, Jun 15: Firing a fresh salvo against BJP, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy today (June 15) said he would soon expose its "pseudo campaign" against UPA "government corruption" and vowed to continue to battle against what he termed as "acts of corruption" by Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

"I will expose the doublespeak of BJP against corruption. While BJP leaders at national level have been waging a war against UPA government corruption, the same leaders are protecting Yeddyurappa in Karnataka," the former Chief Minister told reporters here.

A day after Chief Minister's Political Secretary B J Puttaswamy alleged that firms owned and managed by his family members received Rs 167 crore in their accounts during his tenure as Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy refuted the allegations, saying "there are no illegalities involved in the business transaction of companies run by my brothers".

"BJP has announced a nationwide stir against UPA government corruption from June 24. At least two days before that event, I will release fresh set of documents over acts of corruption indulged in by Yeddyurappa at New Delhi", he said.

Kumaraswamy also sought to distance himself from the business ventures run by his brothers remarking that in 1983 all the brothers divided the family property and were living separately and he was not connected with their businesses.

"What is my family. It should be my wife Anitha and my son Nikhil Gowda . Are they involved in any illegal trading?," he asked.

"B S K Trading owned by his elder brother H D Balakrishna Gowda has been into business since 2000 and exported iron ore from 2004-05 by purchasing it from mines owners," Kumaraswamy said.

"None of my family members purchased iron ore from Mysore Minerals at lower rates and sold it for higher profits as was done by a Congress leader", Kumaraswamy alleged.

"They purchased iron ore on payment of market rates and not by threat", he said.

Some ministers of the Yeddyurappa Government had filed a case against him over the Rs 150 crore bribery charges and other issues, but later withdrew the plea as the Supreme court said it would dismiss it, he said without naming Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy.

He said an advocate has already filed a complaint before Lokayukta on the transaction of RS 167 crore funds by firms owned by his family members and they have furnished replies to the notice issued by Lokayukta.

Similar allegations were levelled against him by a Congress leader in 2006 and it has been repeated now by Puttaswamy, Kumaraswamy said.

PTI