Karnataka - Bangalore

Probe has been fair: Baig

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The former Minister and Congress MLA R. Roshan Baig on Thursday said the investigation by the Joint House Committee of the State legislature into the encroachment of land in and around Bangalore was conducted in a fair manner. Legislators and members of political parties who were not guilty of encroachment had no reason to fear.

Mr. Baig continues to be a member of the committee even though other Congress members of the panel resigned after party MLAs from Bangalore city were not included in the committee headed by A.T. Ramaswamy.

Mr. Baig was speaking to presspersons after the panel submitted its interim report to Legislative Assembly Speaker Krishna.

"Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge has not told me to resign. I am still in the Congress. Why should I resign," Mr. Baig asked.

Recently, a Congress team led by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh met the Speaker and requested him to appoint R. Ramalinga Reddy, A. Krishnappa and D.K. Shivakumar to the committee.

Mr. Singh had stated that the Speaker must appoint only those MLAs recommended by the party. But the Speaker appointed B. Shivaram, S.S. Patil and Mr. Baig. Later, Mr. Patil and Mr. Shivaram resigned.

Mr. Krishna on Thursday told presspersons that he would write to Mr. Singh seeking the support of Congress legislators for the investigation of land encroachments.

Action against Baig

Taking serious note of Mr. Baig ignoring the party's instructions not to sign the interim report of the committee, Mr. Singh on Thursday said appropriate action would be initiated against him after discussing the issue with party leaders and the High Command.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Singh said the party would seek an explanation from Mr. Baig for violating the party's instructions.

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