Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 3: State water resources minister M B Patil who has been spearheading a movement to win recognition of separate religion to Lingayatism, and who has expressed readiness for any sacrifice including losing his ministerial position towards this end, stated that there are chances of income tax department conducting raids on his business concerns and residence.

Speaking to media representatives at his room in Vidhan Soudha on Wednesday August 2, Patil said that BJP leaders have influenced income tax and other departments in the central government to conduct raid on him. He clarified that he got this information from sources within BJP. He said that he can reveal who gave this information to him, but refused to do so for the fear of losing their trust. "BJP is unable to appreciate my rise in politics. So it wants to politically destroy me. Income tax department, which is expected to function independently, is not right in becoming puppets in the hands of political bosses," he felt.

Patil said he is not bothered by such raids and that he will welcome the raiding party with bouquets. He however objected to raids backed by political motives. He called upon the officials of income tax department to conduct investigation into finding of his initials in the diary belonging to MLC,K Govindaraju, quickly. He also felt that the raid on the residence of G M Siddesh was just an eyewash.