The recent order of the SC asking the CBI to conduct a probe into the death of DySP Ganapathy has come to haunt the Congress Government captained by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. It has become a major issue for the Opposition BJP ahead of the ensuing Assembly polls which is crucial for both the BJP and the Congress. The BJP on Saturday set a September 26 ‘deadline’ for Minister KJ George allegedly involved in the suicide case of DySP Ganapathy to resign and threatened agitation if the Minister failed to quit his post.
George, who is now the Bengaluru Development Minister, had, however, offered to quit the post if Siddaramaiah asked him to do so. He contended that the CID of State police had absolved him of all the charges and he was ready to cooperate with the CBI inquiry. The BJP leaders led by lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday staged a protest asking Siddaramaiah to sack KJ George from the Ministry.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Ganapathy who hanged himself in a private lodge at Madikeri in Kodagu District last year alleging harassment.
Yeddyurappa demanded the resignation of KJ George and said the CID enquiry was ‘partisan’ under the pressure from the State Government and the true facts will come out after the CBI probe as ordered by the SC. Till then George he should relinquish his post.
“If not we will launch round the clock agitation until the Minister quits,’’ Yeddyurappa said after a protest march that was attended by a large group of BJP members. Incidentally Ganapathy, a day before taking extreme step, had made a statement to a private channel in Madikeri in Kodagu, alleging that he was harassed by then Home Minister K J George and two top Police officials will be responsible if he commits suicide.
However on the pressure George had resigned and the State Government had ordered inquiry by CID which after probe gave him a clean chit. later he was inducted into the Cabinet by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Cabinet expansion as the Bengaluru Development Minister.
Meanwhile, the All-India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Karnataka KV Venugopal, challenged the Opposition BJP for an open debate on the issue of corruption in the Government and asked it to fix the venue, date and time for the same.
Venugopal, who chaired a meetings of various wings of the Karnataka Congress, rubbished allegations of corruption levelled by BJP’s national general secretary in-charge of State Muralidhara Rao.
A few days ago, the State unit of the BJP has decided to prepare a “charge sheet” on “corruption scandals” of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and distribute it across the state.