“Do whatever you can”: K’taka DyCM to BJP

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday asked BJP leaders "to do whatever they can" after former DyCM and BJP leader Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan announced the saffron party’s decision to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to demand a Lokayukta probe into the BBMP contractors’ allegations of pending dues.

Ashwath Narayan also demanded that Shivakumar should be sacked from the cabinet over the allegations of corruption against him.

Speaking to reporters at his residence in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said, “To help genuine contractors we have initiated the probe. We have decided to investigate the matter no matter what. Let Aswanth Narayan go to any level, approach anyone. Let him play any game or carry out a campaign, I won’t speak on that.”

“I will speak after Independence Day. I have not allotted a contract to anyone and some of them came to me and asked me to release the bills for the works done during the BJP government period. If the work is done, we are bound to clear bills. Why didn't the BJP clear the bills during their tenure?" Shivakumar questioned.

“I will show the document after two days which will shock you. I am feeling sorry for contractors on how they are being misused, and embarrassed, everything is in my knowledge,” he said.

Referring to the electoral debacle of the BJP in Ramnagar, Shivakumar said, “Ashwath Narayan should be called 'Navrangi (chameleon) Narayan'. He should be given a doctorate for protecting thieves. He came to Ramnagar and claimed that he will initiate the process of cleaning. What did he clean? He cleaned his party from Ramnagar as district-in-charge minister.”

“Ashwath Narayan is still in that tension. We haven’t yet looked into what he has done in Bengaluru city. I won’t talk now. When the time comes, I will explain in detail what work he has done and whom he is provoking against me,” Shivakumar further stated.

Reacting to the attack on him over corruption by BJP's former National General Secretary C.T. Ravi, Shivakumar said, “Ravi also needs treatment, let us administer good treatment to him.”

BJP leader Ashwath Narayan said that “DKS tax and YST” have been imposed for every project. He was referring to the allegations of a 15 percent commission against Shivakumar as 'DKS tax' and allegations against CM Siddaramaiah’s son Dr. Yathindra over kickbacks in transfers as 'YST'.

He stated these are clear indicators of corruption and the issue will be taken to the people.

"The government has promised to give corruption-free governance but it is mired in corruption now. There is a bundle of allegations against the government. We demand the Governor to direct a Lokayukta probe into the allegations of DKS tax,|" Narayan said.

With inputs from IANS