ED wants to implicate me illegally in Valmiki Corporation scam: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday accused the Centre of using the central agencies to destabilise the Congress government by implicating him illegally in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam.
Siddaramaiah made the allegations during an agitation by the Congress legislators near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Vidhana Soudha premises against the ED's alleged highhandedness while probing Rs 187 crore irregularities in the Valmiki Corporation.
The ED summoned Additional Director of Social Welfare Department B Kallesh for investigation and put pressure on him to give in writing that the chief minister was involved in this scam, Siddaramaiah claimed.
"The ED people have forced Kallesh to mention my name and also other ministers that, on the direction of the chief minister, Rs 43.33 cr has been released from the treasury," he alleged.
"We have no connection with that (scam). Neither me nor the finance department have any role in that. Kallesh has been threatened and abused because they (ED) want to implicate my name illegally," he said.
The chief minister said a case has been registered against the ED officials based on a complaint by Kallesh. He has explained the sequence of events, he added.
"The Centre wants to destabilise the state government, target me, tarnish my image and create an impression among people of the state that we are against SC/ST," Siddaramaiah alleged.
He said the Congress has always been in favour of SC/ST and the weaker section, farmers and labourers.
"Yet, their (Centre's) objective is to weaken the Congress government in Karnataka for which they have chosen the wrong path. I want to make it clear that neither the finance department nor the chief minister are anywhere related to this scam," Siddaramaiah clarified.
He charged that many scams took place during the BJP's rule, but ED did not come into the picture.
"The ED and CBI are trying to destabilise the government against which we have staged a demonstration today. We will raise this issue in the Karnataka Assembly and Council. This is a very dangerous move in democracy," Siddaramaiah said.
Stating that the investigation should happen as per law, the chief minister said he condemned action taken by the central agencies with a political motive.
He added that he has spoken to the party high command which will take a decision.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, ministers and legislators took part in the agitation. Holding placards, they raised slogans against the Centre.
The Congress staged agitation after the Wilson Garden police registered a case based on a complaint lodged by Kallesh against two ED officers, Murali Kannan and 'Mittal'.
He alleged that the officers threatened and abused him to name the chief minister in the scam.
Former Minister B Nagendra is in jail in connection with the scam after the ED arrested him.
The scam came to light after Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation's Accounts Superintendent Chandrasekharan P died by suicide.
In his suicide note, he alleged that there was an illegal transfer of money from the Valmiki Corporation's bank accounts.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
