Congress questions silence of PM and BJP leadership over his alleged corruption.
By Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday demanded immediate sacking of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa following strict strictures passed against him by the Karnataka High Court in a corruption case. It also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top BJP leadership for not acting against the CM who has been unabashedly indulging in corruption.
Congress spokesperson and MP, Abhishek Man Singhvi alleged that the Chief Minister has been delaying the investigation of corruption charges against him and cited a Karnataka High Court order that made remarks against him as it did not allow his petition to dismiss an old corruption case against him.
Addressing a media persons via video conferencing, Congress spokesperson and MP, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the BJP government in Karnataka is “engulfed in the clutches of corruption with dented, tainted leaders ruling the roost and special arc of immunity was accorded to Yediyurappa.
“Karnataka and corruption seem to go hand in hand and are intertwined, and there is culpable conspiratorial silence of all the powers that be, including our extremely eloquent prime minister, BJP president JP Nadda, the half portion of the 1-1/2 group, which governs India, and Amit Shah. All of them maintain silence on this very special arc of immunity accorded by the BJP to B S Yediyurappa, the sitting chief minister of Karnataka. It is mysterious, inexplicable and shocking,” he told reporters.
Karnataka and Corruption seem to be inexplicable, inter wined and culpable, conspiratorial silence of all the powers that be, our extremely eloquent Prime Minister, the BJP Party President Mr. Nadda, the half portion of the 1-1/2 group, which governs India, Mr. Amit Shah, all of them maintain silence on this very special arc of immunity accorded to one man by the BJP. The arc of immunity accorded to Shri B.S. Yediyurappa, the sitting Chief Minister of Karnataka.
The Congress leader alleged that Yediyurappa has been delaying the investigation of graft charges against him in the case and accused the BJP leadership of being complacent in the acts of corruption.
“The Congress party, with all the force at our command, calls for the immediate resignation, removal, stepping down of the chief minister, but knowing full well that it will not happen,” he said.
Referring to the High Court judgment, Congress spokesperson said he had raised the issue in October while citing tapes and WhatsApp messages of contractors talking about bribes paid in connection with the Rs 662-crore apartment complex project in Bengaluru.
He also referred to a 20-page judgment delivered by the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday in an old case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the chief minister and other accused and said Yediyurappa himself was the petitioner in the case, which the court dismissed after using some strong language.
Justice John Michael Cunha refused to quash the First Information Report (FIR) dated December 21, 2005 registered by the Karnataka Lokayukta Police for the offences punishable under Section 13(1) (d) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, on the basis of a private complaint filed by one Vasudeva Reddy.
The judge also questioned the Lokayukta police and the state apparatus on how they allowed a person to remain not even under investigation with the probe not proceeding at all for five long years from early 2015 till the end of 2019.
Singhvi read out portions of the high court judgment that states, “Though I will not give a finding that the Lokayukta police has succumbed to the pressure of the chief minister, yet the Lokayukta police, being an independent, impartial body and trusted with the duty to investigate into the misconduct of public servants objectively, cannot give rise to an impression in the mind of the general public that it is playing into the hands of political bigwigs. I refrain from making strong comments against the Lokayukta police, but laxity in conducting the investigation is deprecated and the Lokayukta police is directed to keep a watch over the investigation order.”
He said there cannot be stronger words than these used by a court against a sitting chief minister.
“The chief minister should not remain even for a single minute in the chair after this strong indictment by the high court,” he said, adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is playing shameless politics and it will neither remove Yediyurappa nor will he resign.
One now understands the game Yediyurappa, the BJP and the Karnataka government have been playing by not allowing the investigation to start and wait for an opportune moment to challenge the petitions in court, he added.
“The bottom line is simple, never let the judgment day come, never let the results follow, let time take its own course and solve matters on its own,” he said.
He also quoted the comments of former BJP president LK Advani on Yediyurappa. Advani had said, “It is he (Yediyurappa), who broke away from the BJP and decided to form a factional party of his own, the KJP. In fact, when it became apparent that he was unabashedly indulging in corruption, if the party had immediately taken firm action, the course of events would have been quite different.”
“Those who give us sermons and advice should follow at least their own senior leader’s advice,” he said.
When this correspondent asked why the Congress is failing to make it big issue despite highlighting alleged corruption of BJP governments and leaders frequently?
Dr. Singhvi said the Congress is in the forefront in raising corruption issues but the part of the fault lies in the media too as the party relies on the press for carrying the true message, the correct message.
“I would respectfully say that the part of the fault lies in you, by you I don’t mean you, but, I mean the press in general because we rely on the press for carrying the true message, the correct message, nobody is asking for any favours, but equally the message has to be disseminated in a democracy, you are the best vehicle for it and in a sense when you blame us, you blame yourself also”
I don’t think any party in India has raised issues on Karnataka and corruption more than Congress Party. As I told you, I have myself taken three briefings related to this issue; my colleagues have taken other briefings, Mr. Surjewala, who also happens to be now in charge of Karnataka, have also taken briefings on this issue, he added.
He, however, admitted that ‘I agree with you that we are submerged in a sea of miss-governance. I repeat that it is your job above all to keep such issues alive in institutional memory”.