BJP MLA Jarkiholi rubbishes Cong claim about 'Operation Lotus' trying to bring down K'taka govt
Belagavi (PTI): BJP MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi rubbished the Congress's allegation that those who toppled the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2019 are active once again, offering bribes to the ruling party's MLAs to jump ship.
Jarkiholi, who was previously with the Congress and was seen as instrumental in the fall of the coalition government four years ago, said the BJP never talks about Operation Lotus'. Instead, it is the "drama company" of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar that is talking about it.
"It is the drama company of D K Shivakumar which is talking about Operation Lotus and Rs 50 crore bribe. We BJP people never talk of Operation Lotus' and will not do it," he said
'Operation Lotus', a term coined by the Congress, refers to an alleged BJP conspiracy to topple an elected government.
Admitting that there was a need to dethrone the H D Kumaraswamy-led JD(S) and Congress government earlier, Jarkiholi said, "There was a need in 2019, so we did it. That too was not done by the BJP but by Jarkiholi and company. Neither the BJP gave us money nor did it lure us."
"We rebelled because of D K Shivakumar's dictatorial tendencies and so we brought down the government. We were never against Siddaramaiah or Mallikarjun Kharge. We opposed D K Shivakumar. Today D K Shivakumar's supporters say something but they have no basis in their claims," he added.
The BJP leader said the Congress has failed on all fronts through their falsehood and false guarantee schemes. Only to divert public attention, the Congress is spreading lies, he claimed.
Regarding his recent meeting with former chief minister and JD(S) second-in-command Kumaraswamy, he said he met him only after the BJP formed an alliance with the JD(S) last month and not before that.
"We sat together to decide seat sharing," Jarkiholi clarified.
When he was told that the Congress leaders have said they would expose the BJP conspiracy to topple the government during the assembly session, he said he would welcome it.
"Let them take action against the guilty and we will also support it," Jarkiholi said.
Reacting to Jarkiholi's statement, Shivakumar said in Bengaluru: "People have already given their verdict. We have work to do; we are on it."
Mandya MLA and Shivakumar loyalist Ravi Gowda (Ganiga) claimed last week that those who tried to destabilise the government in the past are once again active in trying to bring down the present dispensation.
"Just as the coalition government was removed, a similar attempt is being made now. The team is searching for people and reaching home with allurements. We have information and videos. We have evidence to prove which MLA was contacted and how many crores of rupees was offered. We will make it public," he claimed.
"The team had even asked us to meet in Delhi. They are even ready to arrange special flights for it and make them meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They have even said that they have these many MLAs with them. They will call the MLA and put them on the speaker. They have already met four of our MLAs and discussed with them," Gowda claimed.
According to the Congress MLA, a former chief minister's personal assistant is also involved in the conspiracy and is actively taking part in the horse trading.
Claiming that he has the videos of the noble men' involved in horse trading, Gowda said he has brought this development to the notice of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
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Nightclub fire: Luthra brothers brought to Goa from Delhi
Panaji (PTI): Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, were brought to Goa from Delhi on Wednesday after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 fire incident that killed 25 persons.
They will be interrogated by the Goa Police in connection with the devastating fire at the nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, an official said.
A team of the Goa Police, along with the Luthra brothers, landed at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa at 10.45 am.
ALSO READ: Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers deported from Thailand, taken into police custody
They are likely to be taken to the Anjuna police station for questioning. The accused will also be produced before a court in Mapusa town for their regular remand, the official said.
After the fire tragedy, the Anjuna police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The Luthra brothers were arrested on Tuesday as soon as they landed in Delhi after being deported from Thailand. A court there allowed the Goa Police their two-day transit remand.
The duo had fled to Phuket (Thailand) early on December 7, hours after the fire at their nightclub, prompting the authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice and cancel their passports.
They were detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11 following a request from the Indian government, which later coordinated with officials in Thailand to deport them under legal treaties between the two nations.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire.
