Shivamogga: Irked by allegations hurled against him by BJP leaders following the death of a 14 year-old girl, district in-charge minister Kimmane Rathnakar on Thursday challenged former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa and former minister Shobha Karandlaje to take the “truth test” at the famous shrine of Lord Shiva in Dharmasthala.
The minister, who spent the day offering pooja at temples in his hometown, Tirthahalli, swore that he had not committed any mistake. With tension palpable in the town, Mr. Rathnakar later told the media that on completion of an inquiry by officers of CID into the death of the girl, he would undertake a padayatra from Tirthahalli to Dharmasthala to take the “truth test.”
“I am upset over the manner in which BJP leaders, in particular Udupi Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje and Shivamogga MP B.S.Yeddyurappa, are levelling allegations on as if I am protecting the culprits and created the death note.
If Ms. Karandlaje and Mr. Yeddyurappa come to Dharmasthala to take the truth test at Sri Manjunatheshwara temple along with me, I will step down from my post the next moment”, he added.
Mr. Rathnakar said “the Opposition leaders are making false allegations against me. I am ready to face punishment if my involvement is proved in this case.”
Such was ire against BJP leaders that he admitted to the media that he prayed for the rout of Rajya Sabha MP Ayanur Manjunath, Mr.Yeddyurappa, Ms.Karandlaje, former MLA Araga Jnanendra, president of the state unit of Prahlad Joshi, and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar in the next elections.
Incidentally, Mr. Yeddyurappa had challenged JD (S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy to a “truth test” to prove his allegations of corruption and nepotism in 2011 but the leaders backed out though they offered pooja at the temple within a gap of couple of hours on the same day.
