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Koujalgi in the eye of another storm

By Our Staff Correspondent

Belgaum May 28. Less than one year after V.S.Koujalgi's induction into the Cabinet after the Lokayukta verdict in the bribery scandal, come reports of another videotape on the Agriculture Minister, which could give his detractors another chance to criticise him.

Anil Kadam, a contractor from Chikkodi, had lodged a complaint and provided a videotape allegedly showing Mr. Koujalgi accepting a bribe from him for an official favour. The Lokayukta rejected the complaint saying he had no jurisdiction to inquire into complaints of corruption against legislators.

Now, there are reports in a section of the Press, quoting the Congress worker and former NSUI President, J.N.Metgud of Belgaum, about a videotape on Mr. Koujalgi showing him in "unacceptable scenes".

There were rumours of Mr. Metgud being picked up by some persons and taken to Bangalore. However, Mr. Metgud, who returned to the city on Tuesday, denied rumours of his "kidnapping." But he alleged that he was picked by a minister and his henchmen in Bangalore on Saturday. He was first taken to the house of a minister, and later to a godown where he was allegedly harassed and subjected to mental torture for nearly five hours. Mr. Metgud claimed that a search was conducted to check whether he was carrying a videocassette. When they did not find it, Mr. Metgud claimed that he was given Rs. 500 to return to Belgaum.

Before that, Mr. Metgud claimed that he met the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, and discussed the district affairs of the party. He alleged that he was picked up while he was coming out of Mr. Krishna's residence.

The JD(S) leader from Gokak, Satish Jarkiholi, MLC, has written to the Chief Minister requesting a probe by a Central agency into the reports. He maintained that legal action should be initiated against Mr. Koujalgi if he was found guilty. If the charges were found to be false, action should be taken against Mr. Metgud.

Mr. Jarkiholi said that as per his information, police "illegally arrested" Mr. Metgud and forced him to hand over the videotape. (Mr. Jarkiholi's name had figured in connection with the first videotape scandal which forced the Congress High Command to obtain Mr. Koujalgi's resignation as KPCC President.

Meanwhile, the Belgaum District Congress Committee General Secretary, Senapati Dhotre, the KPYCC General Secretary, Chandrakant Kalal, the Belgaum District Youth Congress General Secretary, Sadashiv Kolkar, and Shankar Munavalli, at a press conference on Wednesday, challenged Mr. Metgud and his supporters to release the video cassette within 48 hours.

Mr. Munavalli, who claimed that he was authorised by the KPCC General Secretary, Prakash Rathod, and other leaders to explain the party position to the people, said Mr. Metgud had also named the Urban Development Minister, D.K.Shivakumar, which was ridiculous.

They said the Opposition had no issues in the light of the good work done by the Krishna Government. Instead of concentrating on drought relief works and help people in times of crises, it was indulging in "cassette politics" to embarrass the State Government, the leaders said, and claimed that there was no such videotape as claimed by Mr. Metgud.

These leaders, who are all supporters of Mr. Koujalgi, said that they would lead an agitation for the removal of Mr. Koujalgi from the ministry if he was found guilty. But if Mr. Metgud failed to prove his charge within 48 hours, he should tender a public apology. They maintained that Mr. Metgud was no more a Congressman as his membership of the party had not been renewed. Therefore, the party could not take disciplinary action against him.

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