Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Congress party apparently is trying to cover up the incident in which Congress legislators came to blows, and injured Hospet MLA, Anand Singh, was admitted into hospital. The incident, which has put the coalition government in a fix, is being covered up and Congress high command has asked state leaders to file a report thereof immediately.

It is said that verbal friction happened between MLAs, Anand Singh, Kampli Ganesh and Bheema Nayak. After the initial exchange of words hotted up, Kampli Ganesh attacked Anand Singh, causing injury to his head, chest, abdomen, and back. Anand Singh was immediately admitted into Apollo Hospital.

Anand Singh and Kampli Ganesh

Although the legislators were reported to be in an inebriated condition, there is no official confirmation about this. Some reports said that Anand Singh was treated and he got some stitches for his injuries, some Congress leaders have denied this report.

It is said that the fight occurred on the issue of conveying information about the BJP having contacted the legislators to the chief minister and about these MLAs having been in touch with the BJP leaders.

Congress leaders have made the matters worse by initially claiming it to be a minor skirmish between friends. At one stage they said no such assault ever had taken place. On another occasion, it was said that Anand had slipped and fallen. JD(S) however, has taken a decision to keep distance from the issue for the present. Both national president of JD(S), H D Deve Gowda, and chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, have asked their ministers and MLAs to keep their lips sealed on this issue.

It is said that over two dozen MLAs have charged chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, as being responsible for this incident by not attaching enough importance to legislators and not being responsive enough. There was also a demand for the change of chief minister at the Congress legislature party meeting, it is said. Because of the incident, the Congress MLAs have prolonged their stay in the resort. R Ashok, former deputy chief minister and BJP leader, has accused former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, of engineering this demand.

It is said that overwhelmed by the incident, Anand Singh, with tears rolling down his years, asked Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Ishwar Khandre, to allow him to leave his post and politics so that he can look after his business. Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara when approached by the media feigned ignorance about the incident while Ishwar Khandre said that Anand Singh did not suffer any injuries. Zameer Ahmed termed this as a minor quarrel between friends, while Rizwan Arshad, MLC, said that injuries were caused by the fall after Anand slipped. MP D K Suresh said Anand Sigh was admitted into hospital for chest pain.

There is also information that there is misunderstanding between Anand Singh and Bheema Naik relating to a private industrial unit in Hagaribommanahalli, and this came into the open due to flared tempers in the resort. As per one source, party leaders are also contemplating changing KPCC president.