From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, May 2: The scandal over the alleged irregularities in the recruitment examination for police sub inspectors, which is already being investigated by the State CID, is turning out to be murkier with Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan and State Congress President D K Shivakumar trading charges against each other besides indulging in a fierce verbal battle.
“Those who eat salt must drink water,’’ remarked Dr Narayan quoting the Kannada saying – “Uppu Tindavanu Neeru Kudiyale Beku” – and warned that he will take legal action against those levelling baseless allegations against him.
Reacting to the allegations levelled against him by the KPCC Chief and Congress leader V S Ugrappa in the PSI scam, the minister said: “I entered politics to serve the people as Janasevak. My life is transparent. Baseless allegations are raised against him on the eve of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Bengaluru to tarnish my image. There is not even an iota of truth in the charges.”
Meanwhile, KPCC Chief Shivakumar, in his statement to media representatives, sought to hit back at Dr Narayan in the same coin by quoting the Kannada proverb, “Kumbalakai Kalla Andare Hegalu Muttiddeke?’’(When I said “thief”, the guilty reacted “I am not”) and quipped that he merely spoke about the role of an influential cabinet minister in the PSI scam quoting newspaper reports.
Dr Narayan, in his reaction to media representatives, confirmed that “Satish is my elder brother. But I don’t know who this person, Darshan Gowda is. I have not even seen him. My political opponents have stooped to the low level of blackening my image as they cannot tolerate my achievements.’’
The minister further claimed that he strongly believes that corruption must be rooted out from public life. ``There is no question of my exonerating those involved in the PSI scam. The CID investigation has already commenced and based on the investigation report, appropriate action will be taken. The media or anybody is free to check my record. Newspapers must pay attention to this,’’ he said.
“If the allegation by Ugrappa is accepted, his previous statement a few days back that Shivakumar was most corrupt must also be accepted as truth,’’ Dr Narayan said and alleged that Shivakumar “is unable to stomach my rise in politics and is trying to arrange match-fixing with his henchmen. This must be examined in detail to know the origin of the allegations.’’
Dr Narayan declared that he will not tolerate the low level politics of dragging his family in the murky political games. “I have never hit the stomach of poor or harmed anybody. I entered politics to serve the people,’’ he said challenging his opponents to prove the allegations by producing evidence and warned that he will take legal action if it was not done.
He said his family has never misused political power and reiterated that he has never recommended in favour of any candidate in the PSI recruitment.
Shivakumar, however, declined to respond to Dr Narayan’s challenge to prove the allegations of his involvement by producing evidence by contending that "he (Dr Narayan) is a big leader and wants to climb up. I have not disclosed his name but merely mentioned that three candidates from Magadi taluk have been selected and wondered he should believe that he is being targeted.
To questions on Dr Narayan’s statement his (Shivakumar’s) family is steeped in corruption, the KPCC Chief asked if he was involved in the racket of making money over dead persons, irregularities in selection of assistant professors and the series of scandals that have surfaced now.
“I am demanding a fair and impartial investigation in the PSI scam. Notice was issued to Darshan Gowda. But he was not interrogated and suddenly he has been released. Was he proved innocent all of a sudden? Who is behind his release and escape from investigation,’’ he asked and maintained that he would reveal names of persons who telephoned him and passed on information at the appropriate time.