BJP is with Eshwarappa, he is framed to an extent: Arun Singh
Hospet, Apr 16: BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh on Saturday said the party is with its senior leader K S Eshwarappa, who resigned as minister following allegations of abetting the suicide of a civil contractor, and expressed confidence that he will come clean after inquiry and "will be back".
He also expressed confidence of BJP winning more than 150 seats in Karnataka, during the 2023 assembly polls.
Singh was speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of the two-day BJP state executive meeting here today and tomorrow, which is scheduled to be attended by BJP national president J P Nadda on Sunday.
"Eshwarappa is a very senior leader of the party and he has worked towards the party's position today. We are fully confident that after the complete inquiry, Eshwarappa will be cleared of all charges and will be back," he said, in response to a question on the future role for Eshwarappa in the party.
Singh said to an extent, Eshwarappa is framed as there are various angles to the case, and it is not simple.
"We have to look from all angles. The role of the Congress also needs to be looked into. Congress is a party of conspiracy. Inquiry is going on, let us wait for that. Eshwarappa is our leader...we are all with Eshwarappa, all workers are with him," he added.
Eshwarappa had resigned as Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) on Friday, following allegations of abetting the suicide of a civil contractor.
Santosh Patil, a Belagavi-based contractor, was found dead at a hotel in Udupi on Tuesday, weeks after accusing Eshwarappa, who is also a senior BJP leader, of corruption. In a purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message, Patil had blamed the BJP leader for his death.
Eshwarappa is not attending the BJP state executive meeting in Hospet, citing personal reasons.
Stating that there is already infighting in the Congress between its legislative party leader Siddaramaiah and state president D K Shivakumar for the CM post, Singh said the people of the country and the state have lost faith in the grand old party and despite all efforts will not be able to win.
Congress is a party of "confusion, conspiracy", he said.
The saffron party's national general secretary also praised Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, calling him a "common man and simple man".
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3 killed, 15 injured in fire after blast at firecracker unit in MP's Dewas; CM orders probe
Dewas/Indore (PTI): At least three workers were killed and 15 persons injured after a fire broke out following an explosion at a firecracker factory in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district on Thursday, an official said.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the incident and ordered an investigation. The state government will provide an assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased, and the injured will receive free treatment, he said in a post on X.
Three persons were killed in the fire at the firecracker unit located in Tonk Kalan area, and around 15 injured persons were sent to hospitals in Indore and Dewas, Collector Rituraj Singh told reporters after inspecting the site.
Videos of the aftermath surfaced on social media, showing thick white smoke billowing from the factory along the Agra–Mumbai national highway. The clips also showed people rushing the injured for treatment amid cries for help, with body parts seen scattered at the site.
The collector said the fire has been brought under control. The administration has taken possession of explosives stored at another location within the unit, he said.
The work to manufacture small firecrackers at the factory of a person named Anil Malviya had begun only 15 days ago, and a licence has been issued for the unit, the collector said.
A detailed investigation is underway into the incident, he added.
CM Yadav said, "I have directed Deputy Chief Minister and Dewas district guardian minister Jagdish Devda, the home secretary and senior officials to visit the spot. An inquiry has also been ordered into the incident."
Local residents said there was a massive explosion at the factory, and the victims' body parts were found scattered far away from the site.
They said construction work was underway at the site and different sheds were being built there.
