Key Takeaways
- DK Shivakumar labeled former Deputy CM Ashwath Narayan as a chameleon amid fresh corruption accusations.
- Ashwath Narayan demanded a Lokayukta probe into the charges leveled against Shivakumar.
- The dispute escalates political tension ahead of upcoming elections in Karnataka.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday called former Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan as chameleon for levelling corruption charges against the former.
He also challenged BJP leaders to do whatever they want in this regard.
Ashwath Narayan had threatened to meet Governor Thawaarchand Gehlot over corruption charges levelled against Shivakumar, and pitched for Lokayukta probe into it.
He also demanded the dropping of Shivakumar from Siddaramaiah’s cabinet.
“We want to help genuine contractors, and therefore we have initiated an inquiry. Let him (Ashwath Narayan) approach anyone, launch a campaign or play any game, I will not react now,” Shivakumar told reporters here.
The BJP leader was referring to the allegations of 15 per cent commission against Shivakumar as ‘DKS tax’ and allegations against CM Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yathindra over kickbacks in transfers as ‘YST’.
“Ashwath Narayan should be called as Navrangi (chameleon) Narayan. He should be decorated with a doctorate for protecting thieves. He promised to clean up Ramnagar on his visit there. What did he clean? He cleaned his party from Ramnagar as district-in-charge minister,” he said.
Ashwath Narayan is still in tension for BJP’s debacle in the state assembly election, and would explain in detail what work he has done in Bengaluru after Independence Day celebrations, Shivakumar said.
He blamed the previous BJP government for not clearing the bills. Shivakumar said, “We are bound to clear bills if the work has been done. Why didn’t the BJP clear the bills during their tenure?”
“I will place the documents in the next two days. You will be shocked. I feel sorry for the contractors who are being misused,” he said.
Asked to comment on BJP’s former National General Secretary CT Ravi’s allegations of corruption against him, Shivakumar said, “Ravi also needs treatment, let us give him a good treatment.”
