Eshwarappa to skip Karnataka BJP executive meet
Shivamogga, Apr 16: Senior Karnataka BJP leader K S Eshwarappa, who has resigned as Minister following allegations of abetting the suicide of a civil contractor, on Saturday said he will not be attending the party's two-day state executive meeting in Hospet, citing personal reasons.
The ruling BJP state executive meeting is being held at Hospet in Vijayanagara district today and tomorrow, which is scheduled to be attended by BJP national President J P Nadda on Sunday.
On his next responsibility or course of action, post resignation as the Minister, he said he will abide by the party's decision as done in the past.
"There are several programmes relating to my grandson's marriage that are on at our house, so I will not be going (for the state executive meeting). I have conveyed it to BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai," Eshwarappa said.
Speaking to reporters here, Eshwarappa however said he would be attending a party event in Ballari on April 19, as part of state wide tour by BJP leaders in teams, aimed at preparations for the 2023 assembly polls.
Earlier in the day, seers of various mutts visited Eshwarappa at his residence here.
Following a political furore that erupted following the contractor's death, Eshwarappa submitted his resignation as the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister to CM Basavaraj Bommai on Friday night.
Reiterating that it is a conspiracy against him, Eshwarappa said initially he had felt that Santosh Patil might have committed suicide fearing the defamation notice served to him through the court for making allegations of corruption, but later on receiving more information, he suspected whether it was suicide or murder.
"I have requested the Chief Minister to see to it that the investigation is completed soon and the report is out with facts about individuals and parties behind the conspiracy, and the guilty must be punished," he said, adding that he has sympathy for the deceased contractor and a feeling whether he was misused by the conspirators.
The leader further said amid charges, he felt it was his duty to resign as Minister and ensure that no embarrassment is caused to people of his constituency, leaders and workers of Sangh Parivar and the BJP, Ministers, legislators and the government.
"I had been discussing it with the state and national leaders of the party. After taking consent of all senior leaders I resigned yesterday," he added.
Eshwarappa in response to a question said he would not take any names and speculate about any Congress leaders involvement in the conspiracy against him, until the probe report is out.
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 Eshwarappa for his death.
Patil last month complained to Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and also BJP central leaders stating that he was yet to be paid Rs four crore for road works undertaken in Hindalga village and had accused Eshwarappa's aides of demanding 40 percent commission for the release of the payment.
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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.
