H Anjaneya, Karnataka Social Welfare Minister got the backing of Dalit organizations on Friday in the aftermath of a sting operation done by a private TV channel which claimed that the minister’s wife took bribe for awarding a contract.
Around 12 such organizations decided to support the minister concerned after a meeting amongst them in Bangalore. Deccan Herald quotes a Dalit leader saying the sting operation was a part of a political conspiracy.
M Venkataswamy of Samata Sainik Dal was heard saying that they would stage a state-wide protest if CM Siddaramaiah decides to sack him.
While another leader D G Sagar of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti suggested that the government should order a probe and sack the minister only if he is proven guilty.
However, the BJP was quick to ask the CM to axe the minister in question immediately.
BJP State president Pralhad Joshi will lead a delegation comprising of former deputy chief minister R Ashoka and party MLAs from Bengaluru to meet Governor Vajubhai Vala on Saturday seeking his intervention.
In the mean time, CM Siddaramaiah has not made his opinions public, neither has he ordered an official probe even after a meeting with Anjaneya.
Deputy Director of Backward Classes Development Department Prabhakar was however suspended as he was seen in the video taking the representatives of TV channel posing as businessmen to the minister’s residence for the alleged deal.
Anjaneya said, “It is neither a fit case nor a scam to resign. The sting operation was conducted by vested interests to finish me off politically. I have not done anything wrong. It is BJP leaders who looted the state. I have directed the Social Welfare department Principal Secretary to conduct a probe into the issue”
This is an aggregation from a Deccan Herald article published on November 7.