From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, May 4: Continuing his tirade against Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan in the recruitment scam of police sub inspectors in the State, KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar on Wednesday, May 4 claimed, “There is no doubt that he is the most corrupt minister.’’
Speaking to media persons after participating in the Homa-Havan in connection with the installation of the new statues in the Sri Basaveshwaraswamy and Marammadevi temples of Dodda Alahalli in his native Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district on Wednesday, Shivakumar charged that the minister was posing as the most honest and clean politician.
“The way he speaks, his behaviour are enough for the people to sense the kind of person he is,” the KPCC Chief said and asserted that the Congress party was not targeting him in view of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Bengaluru.
Asked about Dr Narayan’s statement that he will expose all misdeeds during the Congress regime. “He is free to expose everything without delay. Let him do anything to us. If we have committed any crimes, we are ready to face the punishment,” Shivakumar announced.
To a question on whether some ministers have furnished him information about the PSI scam, he quipped: “I can’t disclose who our informants are. It is quite possible that those who are very close to him (Ashwath) may have given the information. Fighting if any, may have taken place with neighbours and not those living far off.’’
Answering another question on JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s charge that those within BJP have conspired against Dr Ashwath Narayan, the KPCC Chief said:v“Kumaraswamy is MLA of Ramanagara and therefore may have more information. The minister is district-in-charge.”
Responding to Kumaraswamy’s charge that Congress party does not have any evidence to prove the corruption allegation in the PSI scam, he wanted to know why as many as 17 persons have already been arrested in the scam. ‘’Is the Congress party an investigating agency? People have given us information. Even some officers have furnished information to us. I don’t want to disclose their names,’’ he said asking Kumaraswamy whether he will disclose the names of his sources while levelling allegations.
Shivakumar mentioned that BJP legislators have alleged ``corruption and irregularities in different departments and bribe has been for becoming members of the Karnataka Public Service Commission’’ and wanted to know why Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has not taken any action on these allegations.
“The government should have referred the case to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). As KPSC is a statutory body, if there is corruption in the appointment of KPSC members there should be investigation. Why are the Chief Secretary and State Governor silent,” he said and challenged the KPSC Chairman to lodge a complaint if he is honest.
The State Congress President said that the party would take up each and every case of corruption in the government, including the 40% commission charge against former minister K S Eshwarappa.
“The minister (Dr Ashwath) has been Ramanagara district in charge since 2-3 years. He announced that he would clean the district. He had threatened to expose all misdeeds,” he said.