From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Chikkamagaluru, Mar 5: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai launched a bitter attack on the opposition Congress party on Sunday, alleging that the suppression of its mistakes is Congress' morality. He added that his BJP government has given a free hand to Lokayukta and is ready to take action against anybody found guilty.
Speaking to media persons at Baalehonnur in Chikkamagaluru, he said that the Congress agitation demanding his resignation over the Lokayukta police arrest of Channagiri BJP MLA’s son, Prashant Madalu, while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lac and seizure of over Rs. 8 crore, was under Congress rule with Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister. He pointed out that a person was caught while accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh in a minister's office in Vidhana Soudha, but no action was taken.
"If there was a Lokayukta when Siddaramaiah was in power, a case would have been registered. The then government had tried to suppress the incident," Bommai said.
The Chief Minister said the Congress party’s agitation on the BJP MLA Virupakshappa Madal’s son's arrest while taking a bribe of Rs. 40 lakh is meaningless and politically motivated aimed at coming to power.
"Nobody has forgotten the scams during the Congress rule. Murders, dacoities, corruption, and loot were rampant. As many as 59 cases during the Congress rule have been referred to Lokayukta, and the truth will come out," he warned.
He added, "No decision has been taken on seeking the resignation of Virupakshappa Madal. Our government has given full freedom to conduct an impartial and fair probe. We want the investigation to be carried out unhampered."
Virupakshappa Madal has already resigned his position as chairman of the State-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd.
Bommai said the Congress party's unveiling of the statue of Shivaji in Raigarh in Belagavi district, which had already been inaugurated, is laughable.
"The statue of Shivaji was installed by the government. They are free to inaugurate it after the official inauguration by the government. However, it is strange that the opposition party has inaugurated an already unveiled statue," he said and pointed out that it indicated the Congress party's lust for power.
The Chief Minister said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a person in connection with the murder of Hindu activist Praveen Nettaru in Dakshina Kannada based on the information already provided.
He later visited the Rambhapuri Veerasimhasana Peeth in Balehonnur and participated in Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya Jayanti celebration and performed the foundation stone-laying ceremony of erecting a 51 feet tall statue of Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya.
Dr Veerasomeshwara Rajadeshikendra Shivacharya, Union coal minister Prahlad Joshi, former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, Minister C C Patil, BJP national secretary C T Ravi, chief minister’s political secretary D N Jeevaraj, and others were present.