From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 30: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he has directed the Director General of Police to probe the death of suspended K R Puram Inspector Nandish and also contended that the opposition Congress party has no moral right to speak about the alleged cash gifts with sweet hampers to select journalists.
Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru on Sunday, Bommai indicated that he has already asked the DGP to probe the death of Inspector Nandish who died of heart attack following depression from all angles and made it clear that the State Government has no hesitation to conduct the probe including the alleged payment of Rs 60 to 80 lakh by the suspended Inspector Nandish to get the posting at K R Puram.
The DGP will also look into the alleged harassment of the suspended Inspector Nandish by senior police officers from the North, the chief minister said.
Answering reporters’ queries on the alleged gift hampers with sweets and envelopes containing cash to the tune of Rs 1 to 2.5 lakh to select journalists by the chief minister’s media coordination office, Bommai said the Congress party has no moral right to talk about the issue.
“The Congress party is fabricating false news as facts through its toolkit,’’ the chief minister said asserting: “I have not directed anybody to offer any hampers to any journalists.”
The chief minister claimed that it is a well-known fact as to what kind of gifts were given to different kinds of people when the Congress party was in power. “iPhones, laptops and gold coins have been given. They have no moral right to speak on the issue,” he said.
Bommai said: “Just because somebody has lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta on the alleged presentation of gift hampers and cash envelops, it is unfair or improper to claim that all journalists have received gifts. The Lokyaukta is conducting its inquiry into the complaint. I have nothing more to say on the issue.”
The chief minister reiterated that he has not instructed or directed anybody to give any gift hampers to anybody. “Let the Lokayukta conduct the probe and come out with facts,” he said.
Bommai said the BJP is organising a massive convention of Backward Classes at Kalaburagi and it shows the massive support enjoyed by BJP among the people.
The chief minister said the ruling party will be organising a massive convention of Scheduled Castes at Ballari in November, which will be followed by another convention of Scheduled Tribes. A convention of farmers will be organised in Hubballi and another massive convention of women will be held in December.