"100 Siddaramaiah's will have to come to arrest me," Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy hits back at CM
Bengaluru: Taking a jab at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remarks about his arrest in the mining case, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and Karnataka JDS President, HD Kumaraswamy, retaliated on Wednesday.
"I have no fear. It would take 100 Siddaramaiahs to arrest me," Kumaraswamy said during a press conference at JP Bhawan on Sheshadri Road in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Kumaraswamy mentioned that he had sought the Governor's approval for prosecution against him in the Sri Sai Venkateswara Minerals case. He said, "Permission was sought in November 2023. It has been about ten months," he noted.
He further alleged, "MUDA is claiming that the property is mine, but no Chief Minister has shown such hypocrisy. Now, they are saying they will arrest me. We are not afraid of such threats. The state Congress government is acting out of jealousy because I am a Union Minister. They are trying to target me with a dead case—a case without my signature."
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Kumaraswamy asserted that he would fight a legal battle regarding the Sai Venkateswara Minerals case. "In such situations, we must resort to the law. We have to bow down to the law of the land. I have not even given this company the space of a needle. The central government has not granted any permission, and the state exchequer has not lost a penny. Given this, how could the SIT seek the Governor's permission for prosecution?" he questioned.
He also remarked on the Congress's past accusations, saying, "Earlier, Congress leaders claimed there were 21 cases against the BJP. They couldn’t prove a point of power. Now, they are targeting me. Siddaramaiah should at least bring a case with some substance."
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Two held for 'firing' at BJP leader's house in Bengal
Kolkata (PTI): A day before the counting of votes for the West Bengal assembly elections, two persons were arrested on Sunday for allegedly being involved in a firing incident outside the residence of a BJP leader in North 24 Parganas district, police said.
BJP leader Kundan Singh lodged a police complaint, alleging that a few gunmen fired at his house in the Noapara constituency around Saturday midnight.
Based on the CCTV footage, the two accused were apprehended, a senior officer said.
BJP's Noapara candidate Arjun Singh, in a post on social media, claimed that around 12.05 am, two armed miscreants arrived on a motorcycle at the residence of Kundan Singh, a BJP functionary and secretary of the Barrackpore organisational district, with an "intent to kill him".
According to the BJP leader, the accused are residents of Garulia and are known criminals.
Their names as offenders had been submitted to the Election Commission, he said.
The police officer did not specify whether the two arrested persons were the same individuals named by Arjun Singh.
According to the complaint, one round of firing took place outside Kundan Singh's house, triggering panic in the area.
The BJP candidate also questioned the role of the police, claiming that one of the accused had been detained by the police on the polling day but was later released in the evening.
The Noapara assembly seat went to the polls on April 29.
Several BJP leaders alleged that attempts were being made to create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the counting and weaken the organisation of the opposition parties.
The counting of votes will take place on May 4. Polling for the West Bengal assembly elections was held on April 23 and April 29.
The BJP urged the Election Commission to intervene immediately to ensure peaceful counting.
TMC candidate Somnath Shyam rubbished Arjun Singh’s allegation, claiming that the BJP nominee had orchestrated the firing incident to divert attention from imminent defeat.
“Arjun Singh knows all the gangsters in the Barrackpore belt. Everyone knows about his links with the underworld. Let the police investigate the incident,” Shyam said.
