Shivakumar rejects BJP’s demand for excise minister's resignation
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday rejected the BJP’s demand for Excise Minister R B Timmapur’s resignation citing large-scale corruption in his department.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara too said the opposition is not providing any evidence for corruption.
The BJP staged an overnight agitation in the Karnataka Assembly starting from Tuesday night till Wednesday morning. The party also held demonstrations inside the Assembly as the session started.
The agitation was happening when the state government started discussion on replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) and its fallout on the rural economy and employment scenario.
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Congress leaders said the BJP was raking up a non-issue and that there was no need for Timmapur to resign.
"There are no evidences, they (BJP) have no issues and they have created all fake issues. They want to keep this issue alive," Shivakumar, who is Congress Karnataka unit president, told reporters here.
The BJP was staging demonstrations to avoid discussion on the MGNREGA, he said.
"They don’t want MGNREGA to be discussed. That is why they are doing some drama. Apart from drama, there is nothing. Let them participate. Let them tell about the concept of what they are doing. They don’t have a voice to say on MGNREGA. On the issue of opposing MGNREGA, they have started (their agitation). They are diverting the issue," Shivakumar said.
Parameshwara said, "We have said very clearly that if you (BJP) have any evidence, then give it to us. Our minister is ready to resign. The minister himself said, ‘Give me evidences, I will step down’."
The BJP was making a mere allegation, he told reporters.
He also said his party too had done the same thing when it was in the opposition, but evidence is a must to take action.
Parameshwara said based on the allegations, Timmapur will not resign. Just because an officer had said something, that was not sufficient for the minister to quit.
According to the home minister, there should be some evidences like taking cash or cheque or receiving gratification through some other means.
"Just making allegations will not suffice. These are allegations. They cannot be accepted unless it is proved," he underlined.
Opposition leader R Ashoka alleged that there was a scam to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore in the Excise Department.
He also alleged that the money was being used by the ruling Congress to fund the party in the poll-bound states.
The allegations come in the wake of the arrest of Excise Deputy Commissioner of the Bengaluru Urban District Jagadeesh Naik and two other officials by the Lokayukta sleuths, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh on January 16.
According to Lokayukta officials, they were accused of demanding Rs 80 lakh to issue CL-7 (Hotels & Boarding Houses) and micro brewery licence.
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Siddaramaiah, I will abide by Cong high command decision on leadership issue, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision takeb by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Delhi, the Congress state president said, he has full faith in the party leadership and that it would take an approapriate decision at the appropriate time.
The remarks comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in the Karnataka are announced.
"I will not speak about political issues before the media. I have already said that when the time comes you will get to know. So I will not tell you," Shivakumar said in response to a question on discussions with the Congress high command during his Delhi visit over the last couple of days.
He asserted that there are no issues within the party, and whatever has been already decided will take place accordingly.
Responding to a question on senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi's reported statement about internal differences, the Deputy CM said, "nothing like that, they (high command) will do what they have to do at the appropriate time."
"There are no issues, we have faith in our party, they will do what they have to," he added.
Asked about the issue of leadership change as the government is about to complete three years in office, Shivakumar said, "... I have never discussed this issue. The CM and I have both said that we will accept whatever and whenever the high command decides, and we will abide by it."
He declined to comment when asked whether any "good news" can be expected by his birthday on May 15.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Responding to a question on the BJP's criticism against the Congress government over its decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes, alleging injustice to several communities and questioning its intent behind the revised quota formula, Shivakumar said the BJP could not do anything on internal reservation while in power, but the Congress has kept its promise.
"We have found a solution and tried to do justice to all sections among SCs. We have fulfilled the promise made and every one should go together," he said.
Shivakumar warned his party workers against erecting flex banners for his birthday on May 15.
"For May 15, I want to tell everyone that no one should put up flex banners or advertisements for my birthday. If flex are installed I will ensure that cases are registered by authorities against those responsible, whether they are party workers or followers....no one should put such things on roads, this is my personal request," he said, adding that he has asked commissioners of the city corporations to register cases and impose heavy fines.
