After allegations of chief minister’s workplace allegedly bribing journalists by sending them a money present of ₹1 lakh throughout Diwali got here to the fore, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday denied allegations calling it Congress “toolkit”.
Even because the Karnataka unit of Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into the case, Bommai has mentioned that he was unaware of the “money” being given to journalists together with sweets for Diwali.
“That is the results of Congress’ toolkit, they’re making an attempt to create a lie. I’ve not given any directions to anybody (to offer money items),” Bommai mentioned whereas responding to the queries concerning the allegations from his workplace.
After the experiences of a non-government organisation ‘Janaadhikara Sanghasha Parishath’ complaining to the Karnataka Lokayukta in opposition to the chief minister got here to the sunshine, Bommai mentioned somebody has filed a criticism earlier than the Lokayukta on the difficulty, and let the investigation occur for the reality come out.
The Congress on Saturday alleged that Bommai tried to bribe journalists by sending ₹1 lakh money items to them on Diwali and demanded the registration of a graft case in addition to his resignation. It additionally sought a judicial inquiry into the allegations.
Chatting with reporters in Bengaluru, Bommai mentioned when the Congress was in energy, what items got by varied individuals are “clearly recognized”, and the media had reported it, “whether or not it was iPhones or laptops or gold cash”.
“What morality do they (Congress) have? Above all, somebody has filed a criticism on this regard to Lokayukta and Lokayukta will examine. It isn’t proper to interpret that the items got or all journalists have taken it. Yesterday, a Congress spokesperson interpreted it very wrongly. I condemn it,” he added.
On the criticism filed with the Lokayukta within the wake of the allegation, the BJP chief mentioned the matter might be investigated. “Let the investigation be accomplished,” he mentioned.
The Congress on Saturday had asserted {that a} case needs to be filed in opposition to him below the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Reacting to Bommai’s feedback, Rajya Sabha member and senior Congress chief Randeep Surjewala, who’s the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Karnataka, nonetheless, known as it a “bribegate” wherein the chief minister was straight concerned.
“The Bommai authorities’s bribegate is now out within the open and this time the accountability lies on the doorstep of the chief minister himself,” he mentioned.
“This time, Bommai has surreptitiously, overtly and in a conspiratorial trend tried to bribe the complete journalistic fraternity by sending ₹1 lakh money to each journalist in Karnataka. Hats off to our journalist associates who brazenly uncovered the bribegate,” Surjewala instructed reporters.
Surjewala additionally claimed that below the BJP governance, there have been allegations of bribery and corruption in recruitment, postings, contracts and even in offering grants to spiritual mutts.
“CM Bommai has been caught red-handed within the bribery to journalists rip-off. A case of corruption below the Prevention of Corruption Act for providing bribes needs to be registered in opposition to Bommai and he ought to resign instantly,” the Congress chief mentioned.
(With inputs from PTI)