Bengaluru, Nov 11: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday sought an apology from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi for his alleged statement calling Justice Michael D'Cunha as "an agent".

Rao and Gowda submitted a complaint to the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot demanding a legal action against Joshi for his alleged statement.

Union Minister's alleged statement came at a time, when the commission of enquiry led by Justice D'Cunha, probing the COVID scam charges against the erstwhile BJP government in the state, recommended in its preliminary report to prosecute former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and former health minister B Sriramulu.

The commission is probing the alleged irregularities in purchasing of medicines and equipment during the COVID19 pandemic, when BJP was in power.

ALSO READ: Karnataka Guv asks Advocate General to take action on plaint against minister Zameer Ahmed Khan

Explaining about his demand to probe Prahalad Joshi, Minister Gundu Rao told reporters that Justice Michael D'Cunha, a retired judge of high court, acted with integrity and Joshi being in a responsible position made an irresponsible statement for which he should apologise.

"Pralhad Joshi's recent statements were full of arrogance. What does it mean to call a retired judge as a Congress agent? Let Joshi speak about us politicians or fight a legal battle but attacking a judge is not right," he said.

The Minister alleged that Joshi was trying to put pressure on D'Cunha before the commission submits its final report. Calling D'Cunha 'a Congress agent' is part of the 'pressure tactic', he said.

The Karnataka government on October 11 decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a Cabinet sub-committee to take further action on the D' Cunha commission report. In the 'partial' report submitted on August 31 in 11 volumes, the Commission examined the expenditure to the tune of Rs 7,223.64 crore.

The Commission has recommended to prosecute the former CM B S Yediyurappa and former Health Minister B Sriramulu.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Karnataka in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Karnataka.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Mysuru (Karnataka), Nov 13: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said there was a demand for four per cent reservation for Muslims in government tenders, but no decision has been taken yet on it.

Prominent Muslim leaders, including Karnataka Minister for Municipal Administration and Hajj, Rahim Khan, Congress MLAs and MLCs wrote to the chief minister on August 24 demanding to consider giving four per cent reservation to socially and economically backward Muslims in government contracts. The chief minister wrote on the petition on August 31 that the file should be put up, sources said.

"There was a demand for four per cent reservation, but we have not taken any decision yet," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

When asked about the BJP raking up this issue, he said, "The BJP wants to communalise everything. Their job is to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims. Did they ever wish peace in society?"

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra termed the purported move unhealthy.

"In a bid to woo the Muslim community, the @INCKarnataka government is going to give reservation in contracts as well, which will damage the health of a harmonious society," he said in a post on ‘X’.

He said it had become inevitable to protest against such stances of the Congress government.

Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged in his post on social media 'X' saying what seemed like "shameless appeasement politics" to be a "cover for Congress corruption machine".