BJP sends legal notice to Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru: The BJP's Karnataka unit on Friday said it has sent legal notice to the leader of opposition Siddaramaiah and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar for their "baseless" allegations of corruption in the procurement of Covid-19 equipment and supplies. The party has demanded public apology from the two leaders, failing which they have been threatened with legal action.
"On one side Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah say the government was not sharing information with them despite writing twenty letters when the government did not share any information, where did you get this figure, who gave you this," BJP general secretary N Ravi Kumar asked.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, the allegations "are most baseless, irresponsible and far from truth" with an intention to mislead the people and malign the reputation of the government and the Chief Minister.
"How did they say that Rs 4,167 crore has been spent. Our government, Ministers and Chief Minister have said that much amount has not been spent," he said, adding that the two leaders have been given 15 days time to reply to the notice.
Siddaramaiah had last week alleged that the total expenditure of the government relating to COVID was Rs 4,167 crore of which at least Rs 2,000 crore was "pocketed" by ministers and officials.
Refuting this, as many as five ministers had said the overall expenditure of the government is Rs 2,118 crore, with Rs 1,611 crore going for COVID relief measures and Rs 506 crore for purchase of medical equipment.
Stating that in the legal notice it has been mentioned that allegations have caused damage to the party and the government's image, Kumar said they have sought a public apology.
"We have also warned that or else we will be forced to take up legal action in the days to come," he added.
Siddaramaiah while making the allegation had demanded inquiry by a sitting high court judge, which the government has rejected.
Hitting out at Siddaramaiah for "unnecessarily" alleging corruption and seeking an inquiry from a sitting high court judge, Kumar asked the former Chief Minister about his accountability on his Hublot watch that had earlier led to controversy.
"Siddaramaiah repeatedly targets Yediyurappa saying that he had gone to jail, had D K Shivakumar gone for picnic or tour to Delhi (Tihar jail). With what morality is Siddaramaiah sitting next to Shivakumar?" he asked.
"Shivakumar's assets were Rs 251 crore in 2013 and in 2018 it was Rs 840 crore, in five years 200 per cent increase, what business are you doing, please share it with people of state," he added, as he questioned Congress leaders morality.
The allegations constitute a "classic case of slander which constitutes both civil and criminal defamation," the notice read.
BJP spokesperson Ashwath Narayan accused Congress leaders of making "baseless" allegations at the time of COVID-19 with an intention to demoralise doctors and officials.
According to the two BJP leaders, Congress is unable to digest that the government in Karnataka despite difficulties and financial crisis has been able to perform well and has got appreciation from the people.
That's the reason congress leaders are holding protest, press conferences to make such baseless allegations and bring a bad name to the BJP, its government and Chief Minister Yediyurappa, they added.
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Commercial LPG price hiked by Rs 993 per 19-kg cylinder
New Delhi (PTI): The price of commercial LPG was hiked by the steepest ever Rs 993 per 19-kg cylinder on Friday, marking the third straight monthly increase due to rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
A 19-kg commercial LPG - used by establishments such as hotels and restaurtants - now costs a record Rs 3,071.5 in Delhi as against Rs 2,078.50 previously.
Rates were last increased by 195.50 per cylinder on April 1. Prior to that, prices had gone up by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder on March 1.
In three increases, commercial LPG rates have gone up by Rs 1,303.
Prices of domestic cooking gas LPG - the one used in household kitchens - remained unchanged. Domestic LPG rates were last hiked by Rs 60 per 14.2-kg cylinder on March 7. It costs Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi.
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum revise ATF and LPG prices on the first day of every month based on international benchmarks and the exchange rate.
Global oil prices have shot up almost 50 per cent after the war in West Asia disrupted energy supply chains.
Petrol and diesel prices continue to remain frozen after a Rs 2 per-litre reduction in March last year; petrol currently costs Rs 94.72 per litre in Delhi and diesel Rs 87.62.
