Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah for orchestrating income tax raids and misusing the Income Tax official to threaten Gujarat Congress MLAs staying at Eagleton Resort near Bidadi in Bengaluru Rural district.
“The I-T officials met Gujarat MLAs at the resort and informed them that they would get Rs 15 crore each if they go to Gujarat. Why did the IT officials raid the resort where the Gujarat MLAs are staying? Why did IT officials threaten the MLAs to return to Gujarat and tried to induce them with an offer of Rs 15 crore? The raid took place when Gujarat MLAs are here as state government’s guests,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
Condemning the raids on the premises of Karnataka Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah said that he had no objection against the raid but the timing is questionable.
The chief minister’s outburst came in the backdrop of statement from the Gujarat MLAs that the IT officials threatened them at gun point to return to Gujarat and tried to lure them with offerings of Rs15cr per MLA to change their loyalty.
The chief minister has reiterated his charge that the raids were conducted on the behest of BJP National President Amit Shah and is part of a conspiracy by BJP government at the Centre.
He has also questioned the use of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent for the raids by keeping the state police in the dark. “It is a violation of the spirit of federal system of democracy in the country. Our Chief Secretary wrote a letter objecting the use of CRPF continent during the I-T raid on Shivakumar’s residence and offices,” he said.
Reacting to the demand of BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa and Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar for Shivakumar’s resignation, he said the BJP leaders have no moral right to demand Shivakumar’s resignation. “They are also facing corruption charges,’’ he said.
On Shivakumar mother’s allegation against him, the chief minister said that he has not done injustice to her children. “I will meet her shortly,’’ he said.
