Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 13: State primary and secondary education minister, Tanveer Sait, who is in the eye of storm for allegedly viewing sexually explicit scenes on his cellphone during Tipu Jayanti celebrations, is likely to meet chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and offer to him his explanation relating to the scandal on Sunday November 13. The chief minister, who is on tour of drought-hit areas of the state, is expected to be available for discussions on Sunday.

BJP leaders have been demanding for the scalp of the minister. They seem to be trying to tap everything that this controversy might yield, in view of the fact that when BJP was in power, Congress has demanded for resignation of three ministers, Laxman Savadi, C C Patil, and Krishna J Palemar, for similar act and the BJP was forced to yield to this demand. Therefore, it is said that in the internal consultation within the Congress, a strong view that Tanveer has to step down has emerged, to avoid Congress from getting into an embarrassing situation.

As the party high command wants a detailed report on the episode in view of the fact that this issue has made national headlines, Tanveer will meet Siddaramaiah today and narrate to him his side of the story. Tanveer has been insisting that he is not guilty. The chief minister is then expected to meet Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dr G Parameshwar, and working president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, in an effort to arrive at a decision on the steps to be taken to save face of the party.

It is said that some seniors in the Congress have warned the leadership that the BJP might reap the benefit if the party takes this matter lightly. As the party had raised a ruckus when such an incident had happened during the BJP rule, it has no other go but bend under pressure like BJP did, they feel.

The state Congress will make all out efforts to avoid this issue getting mentioned during the assembly session at Belagavi beginning on November 21.All India Congress Committee general secretary, Digvijay Singh, is said to be in touch with the chief minister and KPCC president to see that the fallout of this incident does not have adverse impact on the image of the party.

KPCC president, G Parameshwar, said that a decision about action to be taken if any will be decided upon receipt of the report from the district administration relating to the episode. He said after the report reaches him, he will discuss the matter with Siddaramaiah.

In the meanwhile, Tanveer Sait has filed a complaint in the city (west) police station against a reporter and cameraman of a news channel. He insists that he was not viewing any porn scenes as alleged by the media at the time. Saying that the report has resulted in sullying his image, he has sought action against the concerned.