Bengaluru/New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday defended Minister B. Nagendra amid ‘taint’ allegations against him and hit out at the BJP over the controversy surrounding the resignation of Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti.
Reacting to questions about allegations in connection with Tribal Welfare scam against Nagendra, Shivakumar questioned the opposition’s criticism, asking who in the country had never faced a case or legal proceedings.
“Who does not have cases in this country? Who doesn’t have? Didn’t Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and D.K. Shivakumar himself obtain bail? Whoever had become minister, didn’t they get bail?” CM Shivakumar said.
Asked about allegations that Nagendra had violated a High Court bail condition by travelling outside Karnataka after assuming the Cabinet berth, CM Shivakumar said he was not aware of the matter.
“I don’t know anything. Nothing has come to my knowledge. We have examined the allegations carefully. Against him, no order has been given that he should remain permanently in jail. The law is there and we will face it lawfully,” he said.
The Chief Minister accused the Opposition of attempting to generate political controversy.
“The Opposition party wants to make some news. Let them discuss,” he said.
On his meetings with the Congress leadership in Delhi, CM Shivakumar said he regularly meets senior party leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and K.C. Venugopal whenever he visits the national Capital.
“Whenever I come here to Delhi, I meet Randeep Singh Surjewala and K.C. Venugopal. Whenever I come to Delhi, I meet them,” he said.
On the vacant ministerial position, CM Shivakumar said only one Cabinet post remained to be filled and indicated that the party intended to appoint a woman to the position.
“Only one post is vacant and all other posts are filled. We have to give that post to a woman and we will give it. There is no urgency as such. We shall give it to a woman,” he said.
Responding to criticism over the delay in allocating portfolios to newly inducted ministers, CM Shivakumar cited the example of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, saying that his Cabinet had also not been expanded immediately after he assumed office.
“When Yediyurappa took over as the CM, he was all alone for a long time before the Cabinet was expanded. For how many days was he ruling without a Cabinet?” Shivakumar asked.
He said the newly inducted ministers had already been sent to districts to assess the situation arising from drought and other issues.
“My Cabinet ministers have gone to the districts and taken stock of the situation of drought. They have done good work. We will allot Cabinet portfolios. I will give an answer for this in the session,” he said.
Turning to the controversy over the Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman’s post, CM Shivakumar said the Congress high command would guide the party on the next course of action.
“Our party leaders and high command have to tell us what should be done henceforth,” he said.
CM Shivakumar also said the Congress had announced senior leader and MLC Saleem Ahmed as its candidate for the post of Legislative Council Chairman.
He maintained that Basavaraj Horatti had voluntarily agreed to resign from the post and had submitted his resignation himself.
“Earlier, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti had come to us and agreed to tender his resignation. The resignation was accepted and he had agreed to this in front of the media. However, later he filed a complaint before the Governor,” Shivakumar said.
The Chief Minister accused the BJP of attempting to create a constitutional crisis by involving the Governor’s office in the matter.
“The Opposition party has also made a statement in this regard. The BJP is creating a constitutional crisis. They are set to misuse the office of the Governor,” he alleged.
CM Shivakumar said he, along with other leaders, had met the Governor and apprised him of the developments.
“I along with others met the Governor and conveyed this development. He had submitted his resignation voluntarily. Otherwise, our leaders had given their signatures to propose a no-confidence motion,” he said.
According to Shivakumar, Horatti had himself indicated that a no-confidence motion was unnecessary and chose to resign voluntarily.
“He stated that it was not necessary and he came voluntarily. He himself came and gave the resignation letter. Lastly, he came to his own decision,” Shivakumar said.
Expressing sympathy for Horatti, Shivakumar accused BJP leaders of putting pressure on the veteran legislator.
“I am sorry for him. The BJP leaders are harassing a big leader. I have conveyed it to the Governor. I have told him that, as per the legal framework and past precedents in this regard set by the Governors,” he said.
On questions over the authority to which Horatti’s resignation should have been submitted, Shivakumar said the resignation had been accepted by the Council Secretariat and that the notification had already been issued.
“They are claiming that the resignation should be given to the Deputy Speaker. In the absence of the Deputy Speaker, the resignation was submitted to the office of the Deputy Speaker and the Secretary of the Council accepted it,” he said.
“The person is not important, the office is important. It has been accepted and the notification has also been published already,” Shivakumar added.
–IANS
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