I-T officials asked DK Shivakumar to join BJP to avoid raids, claims Karnataka CM

“The Central government is controlling the I-T Department, the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI to threaten people,” SIddaramaiah said.
I-T officials asked DK Shivakumar to join BJP to avoid raids, claims Karnataka CM
I-T officials asked DK Shivakumar to join BJP to avoid raids, claims Karnataka CM
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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Wednesday evening, levelled serious allegations against the BJP-led central government and the Income Tax department, stating that the tax agency asked Karnataka Energy Minister DK Shivakumar to join the BJP when his properties were raided earlier in August.

“The Central government is controlling the I-T Department, the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI to threaten people. In August when Minister DK Shivakumar’s properties were raided by the Income Tax officials, those who were part of the search and seizure teams had openly asked him to join the BJP. This is how saffronisation is happening in our country,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said at a rally against demonetisation in Bengaluru.

The Chief Minister further claimed that the tax agency officials had asked Minister DK Shivakumar to join the BJP to avoid raids on his properties.

"Several BJP leaders, who want to join the party, have been in touch with us. We are still in the process of determining who we should induct into the party. Some of them have RSS background. We will not take candidates who have any connection to RSS," CM Siddaramaiah said.

Siddaramaiah also condemned the BJP government’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes a year ago.

“Small scale industries are the ones that are badly affected because of note ban. No one was willing to come forward and voice their opposition against the central government. The reason is the Centre controls the I-T, CBI and ED. There was barely any opposition because of the threat of raids. This is the pathetic situation we are in,” he added.

“Our country is in such a situation because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah’s autocratic regime. Founders of the BJP like LK Advani have been sidelined. What has Modi contributed to building the BJP? He had no role in it at all,” Siddaramaiah said.

The rally, where several Congress leaders spoke out against the central government also had Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr G Parameshwara levelling allegations on BJP. Parameshwara said that BJP was spreading false news that several Congress leaders, including himself, were slated to join the saffron party.

“In Tumakuru, BJP MLA from Chikkamagaluru, CT Ravi had recently alleged that I would soon join the BJP. This is absolutely untrue. CT Ravi was in Tumakuru for a reason. He should have finished his job and gone home instead of dragging my name into a controversy. I even asked CT Ravi at the joint assembly session as to why he used my name. Ravi told me that he had no other issue to speak of and hence decided to bring up my name. Today (Wednesday), Ravi and other BJP leaders are saying this is the last chance for me to join BJP. I want to tell them that Congress is in my blood, it's in my genes. I have been with the Congress for years now. I know where my loyalties lie,” Parameshwara said.

In July this year, BJP MLA CT Ravi had said that around 16 Congress leaders would join the BJP. MLA Ravi had not mentioned the names of the Congress leaders at the time.

However, in October, at Tumakuru, the BJP leader had told the media that the saffron party was in talks with Dr Parameshwara, who would soon be joining the BJP.

At the time, MLA Ravi had said that getting candidates from both Congress and the BJP was an election strategy.

“Amit Shah has instructed all Karnataka BJP leaders to accommodate as many leaders from Congress and JD(S). He told us that the landslide victory in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections was due to the entry of leaders of other parties into BJP. If a strong leader from another party joins, he will definitely dent the vote bank of his original party. Welcoming leaders of other parties is also one of the election strategies of the party,” MLA Ravi had said.

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