Kickbacks row: Kumaraswamy drags JD(S) into Yeddyurappa-Siddaramaiah war of words

The JD(S) leader said he had proof of the alleged kickbacks and would make them public at the right time.
Kickbacks row: Kumaraswamy drags JD(S) into Yeddyurappa-Siddaramaiah war of words
Kickbacks row: Kumaraswamy drags JD(S) into Yeddyurappa-Siddaramaiah war of words
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While the BJP and Congress continue fighting about alleged kickbacks paid to their respective parties’ high commands, the JD(S) has decided to intervene in the political sparring.

JD(S) leader and former Chief Minster, HD Kumaraswamy, on Tuesday, demanded that BJP state President Yeddyurappa disclose to the public, the copy of the diary that allegedly holds information of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his associates paying kickbacks to the party’s national leaders.

“If Yeddyurappa has the proof, why is he not making it public. Regarding the Rs 1,000 crore kickback SIddaramaiah paid to the national leaders, I have the copies of the cheques that exchanged hands. I assure you that I will make these public, but at the right time. This does not mean that Yeddyurappa is innocent,” Kumaraswamy said while addressing protestors at Freedom park.

Kumaraswamy said that he had voiced his opinion of taking legal action against corrupt ministers and leaders during the assembly session but the politicians were busy indulging in a blame game rather than taking appropriate action.

Also, JD(S) MLA Gopalaiah and MLCs Kantharaju and Saravana paid a visit to Governor Vajubhai Vala and urged him to initiate a CBI inquiry into the Rs 1,000 crore kickbacks allegation and also investigate the video released by Congress in which Yeddyurappa and Union Minister Ananth Kumar were caught discussing the kickbacks they had paid to BJP national leaders.

Reacting strongly to Yeddyurappa’s threat of putting Siddaramaiah behind bars, Congress leader Ugrappa lashed out at the BJP during a press conference on Tuesday.

“I am throwing out a challenge to the BJP leaders. BS Yeddyurappa, Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar were once Chief Ministers of Karnataka. If you look at their incomes before and after the became the CMs, one will undoubtedly know that they have accepted huge sums in the form of bribes. I am ready for my assets to be examined. Are they?” Ugrappa said.

The senior Congress leader also questioned Yeddyurappa’s hesitant attitude in making the copy of the diary public. “If such a diary ever existed, Yeddyurappa would have made it public a long time ago. Why is he not showing it to the public?” Ugrappa questioned.

BJP leader, Aravind Limbavali, in turn said that the existence of the diary should not be the topic of discussion but its contents.

“Why is the Congress not ready for an investigation? We are ready to discuss any allegation they have levelled against us. Why are they not ready to do the same? Yeddyurappa has been acquitted in several cases filed against him. Despite this, Congress leaders make false claims that he has been to prison several times. This is not right,” Limbavali said.

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