BENGALURU: Three days after the state government announced its decision to question the acquittal of state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa in the Supreme Court, a hint of fresh trouble for more BJP leaders, including former deputy chief minister R Ashoka and his supporters, came from Bengaluru in-charge minister K J George on Saturday.
In an interaction with the media at KPCC office here, he said the government had initiated the process for appointment of a three-member panel headed by a retired judge of the high court to probe the multi-crore rupee scam in BBMP based on the report submitted by Rajendra Kumar Kataria on irregularities and lapses since 2008.
The new panel would include retired engineers of public works department (PWD), he said adding “Based on the Kataria committee report, the state government has instituted a CID probe into substandard work executed by BBMP in constituencies like Gandhinagar, Malleshwaram and R. R. Nagar Assembly constituencies.”
In a veiled threat to some leaders who are attempting to forge Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance to grab power in BBMP, Mr George said that the government knows how to supersede the local authority in case efforts are made to destabilize BBMP.
The minister said that his party was confident of completing the five-year term in BBMP with the support of Janata Dal (Secular).
“Let us not forget that people of Bengaluru have given a mandate for Congress-Janat Dal (Secular) alliance to rule for five years. If anyone wants fresh mandate, let us face polls by superseding the existing body and go for fresh polls,” he suggested and termed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement on division of Bengaluru as the leader’s “personal opinion.” “We have not given any serious thought to division of Bengaluru yet though the ruling party passed a resolution to divide Bengaluru in both Houses of legislature, and sent the resolution to Governor who in turn sent it to the President’s office. Therefore, at present we cannot take any decision on this issue,” he added.
He defended the abrupt transfer of BBMP commissioner, Kumar Naik, on Thursday, saying: “Transfers are routine administrative procedures, so there is no need to attach any importance to it.”
