Date:21/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/21/stories/2006072119800500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP favours probe into bribery charge

Staff Reporter

Sriramulu will not be dropped from Ministry, say party leaders

UNITED RESPONSE: BJP leaders (from left) D.H. Shankaramurthy, V.S. Acharya, Ramachandra Gowda, H.N. Ananthkumar, D.V. Sadananda Gowda and B.S. Yediyurappa at a press conference in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday favoured an inquiry into the bribery allegation against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and two other Ministers.

The BJP opposed any move to drop from the Ministry B. Sriramulu, who holds the Tourism portfolio and is a supporter of suspended party MLC Janardhana Reddy. There are reports that the BJP's coalition partner, the Janata Dal (Secular), has demanded his removal from the Ministry.

On Wednesday, the BJP suspended Mr. Reddy for repeating the allegation against the Chief Minister and others in the Legislative Council.

The decision was seen as a move to placate the Janata Dal (S) leadership and distance itself from Mr. Reddy.

The decision favouring an inquiry into the bribery charge was taken at a meeting of BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and State unit president D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

Addressing presspersons, Mr. Sadananda Gowda said the inquiry was required to clear doubts in the public mind about the allegations levelled against top leaders of the Janata Dal (S) and to end "the confusion" created by Mr. Reddy's statements.

Mr. Sadananda Gowda said the nature of the inquiry and the terms of reference should be decided by the coordination committee of the two parties. By favouring an inquiry, the BJP wanted to clear the suspicion in the minds of the people, he added.

He said any further action against Mr. Reddy would depend on the inquiry report. The Janata Dal (S) was happy with the action taken by the BJP against Mr. Reddy, he added.

The meeting discussed the need for sorting out issues that were straining relations between the two coalition parties. Mr. Sadananda Gowda said another meeting of top party leaders would be held.

Mr. Yediyurappa and Higher Education Minister D.H. Shankaramurthy ruled out any threat to the stability of the Government.

They said Mr. Sriramulu would not resign. He would also not be dropped from the Ministry, they added.

Sources said the meeting discussed the possibility of expelling Mr. Reddy from the party as he had defied a directive not to repeat his allegation.

Mr. Shankaramurthy, who is the leader of the House in the Legislative Council, said he was perplexed by the turn of events on Wednesday when Mr. Reddy reiterated his allegation. A few minutes earlier, Mr. Reddy had spoken of his intention to speak out in the House on the issue. But he had been told not to do so and appeared to have been convinced, Mr. Shankaramurthy said. He said Mr. Reddy was suspended not for repeating the allegation but for violating the party discipline and rules of the House.

On the charge that Mr. Reddy was in the company of Congress leaders before making the statement in the House, Mr. Shankaramurthy said: "Then it is further cause for action against him."

BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu and party general secretary in charge of the State unit Tavarchand Gehlot have arrived here as part of efforts to contain the threat to the Government caused by the allegation against Mr. Kumaraswamy.