Bengaluru: Despite a growing clamour by Opposition parties for Minister K J George’s resignation for allegedly humiliating DySP M.K. Ganapati, the minister seems to be in a safe position, thanks to CM Siddaramaiah. From the beginning, the Chief Minister has gone way out of his way to protect his ministerial colleague, giving him a 'cleat chit' even before the investigating agency could begin the probe. Mr Siddaramaiah scored over other Congressmen in shielding Mr George by claiming that the minister was 'innocent' and had absolutely no role in the police officer’s suicide. Besides, he deputed health and family welfare minister K R Ramesh Kumar, a one- time vocal critic of the state government to defend Mr George in the upper House.
Sources close to the Chief Minister told DC that Mr Siddaramaiah banked on Mr George for political reasons more than Mr George depending on him. Sources also pointed out that it was inevitable for Mr Siddaramaiah to support Mr George as he was one among few original Congressmen close to Kuruba strongman. Besides, Mr Siddaramaiah was aware of Mr George's proximity to central leaders in particular party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi, sources added.
