Date:01/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/01/stories/2006090107290400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Convention will have a big impact: Dharam Singh

Staff Reporter

Sonia to attend Congress meet on Sunday

Bangalore: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh has claimed that the Congress convention to be held here on Sunday will change the State's political scenario and help the party in many ways.

Mr. Singh told presspersons here on Thursday that coupled with the merger of the All-India Progressive Janata Dal with the Congress, the convention would give a new direction to party workers. The convention would attract people from all over the State, he said. Asked about the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa's charge that even Congress leaders had a hand in the mining scandal, Mr. Singh said the judicial commission set up to look into the matter would come out with the truth.

`Probe bribery charge'

He urged the Government to specifically include in the terms of reference of the commission the Rs. 150-crore bribery charge against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and two of his Cabinet colleagues.

He expressed shock over the manner in which Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including State president D.V. Sadananda Gowda, were speaking of taking disciplinary action against the BJP leaders Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, MP, and Arvind Limbavali and Janardhan Reddy, MLCs, for raising the issue of bribe being collected from mine owners.

Where was the need for BJP Ministers from the State to meet top party leaders, including A.B. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, and call for disciplinary action against Mr. Yatnal, Mr. Limbavali and Mr. Reddy, he asked.

Mr. Singh said it was unbecoming of the BJP, which claimed that it was fighting corruption and practised value-based politics, to put down those who raised their voice against corruption.