Was sent to Tihar jail for not supporting or going with BJP: D K Shivakumar
Belagavi: Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Monday claimed he was sent to Tihar jail as he did not support or go with the BJP.
He even called the BJP government in the State the most corrupt in the country.
"I went to Tihar jail because they (BJP) sent me. You (BJP) sent me, as I did not support you, didn't come along with you," Shivakumar said in response to a statement by senior BJP leader and Minister K S Eshwarappa, questioning as to why he went to Tihar jail.
Asked whether he wouldn't have gone to jail had he joined the BJP, he said, "everything is known, there are records..."
Shivakumar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 3, 2019, in a money laundering case, and was lodged in Tihar jail from where he was released on October 23 that year following the Delhi High Court granting him bail.
Further, demanding a fair probe into kickback charges leveled by the State contractors association, Shivakumar called the current BJP government in Karnataka the most corrupt government in this country.
In their letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July, the Karnataka State Contractors Association claimed harassment by ministers, elected representatives, and others by accusing them of demanding up to 30 percent of the tender amount for approving a contract, and 5-6 percent towards the release of 'Letter of Credit' against pending bills.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has ordered an inquiry by officials into the charges of corruption while Congress is demanding a judicial probe by a sitting Supreme Court Judge.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
