From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Updated

Bengaluru, Oct 27: Seeking to turn the tables against BJP for demanding the resignation of Bengaluru Development Minister K J George merely because of CBI filing an FIR in the suicide of police offer M K Ganapathy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday challenged the ruling party at the Centre and its State leaders if it would get all its ministers facing FIRs to quit.

In a strong defence of his cabinet colleague, the chief minister said "George had resigned when an FIR was filed. He was taken back into the cabinet after a B report was filed and he was cleared," and declared: "He is not going to resign again."

Siddaramaiah contended that the FIR filed by CBI on the directions of its investigation ordered by the Supreme Court was merely a continuation of what was filed by the Kushalnagar police station, which was subsequently investigated by CID.

"The CBI has been asked to complete its investigation and submit its report in 3 months. Let the BJP leaders wait for the CBI report and what the court decides," he said.

The Chief Minister said the BJP's demand for his resignation was clearly politically motivated. The filing of FIR did not warrant the resignation of George.

Taking political potshots at his Uttar Pradesh counterpart, Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister said that Yogi faced charges of attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and rioting.

Attacking the BJP, Siddaramaiah said at least 20 Central and state ministers belonging BJP had FIRs against them and "they too must resign by the same standards, if BJP wants George to resign then they should also ask these ministers to resign too".

The chief minister said the State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa himself faces six cases of cheating. When CBI is closing cases against him, they have no grounds for asking George to resign, Siddaramaiah asserted.

"I don’t want to comment on CBI. But the people and the country know its credibility," he added.

The CM also added that as a matter of fact, an FIR filed against anybody is not proof of the allegation or charges a person is facing. So the question of George's resignation does not arise.

Siddaramaiah cited the example of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is facing charges of criminal intimidation, attempt to murder and rioting, He also added that BJP parliamentarians Ramesh Jigajinagi, B Sriramulu, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Prahlad Joshi, Suresh Angadi and Karadi Sanganna are facing charges and state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa has seven charges of cheating, six charges of criminal breach of trust and forgery of records against him.

It may be recalled that In July 2016, before committing suicide, Ganapati, in an interview to a local TV channel had accused George and other two IPS officers of harassing him. Subsequently, the state government had ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Owing to pressure from opposition, George, the then home minister, had resigned and the two IPS officers in question were transferred. However, later George was cleared in this case due to lack of evidence and was re-inducted into the Cabinet.