Bharatiya Janata Party Vice-President and former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Saturday challenged Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M. Veerappa Moily to resign on moral grounds.
Criticising the reported statement of Mr. Moily that he was ashamed to call himself a former Chief Minister of Karnataka in view of the disrepute brought to the State by the BJP during its rule, Mr. Gowda pointed out that Mr. Moily was part of a government that was accused of a string of scams. Mr. Moily reportedly made the remark in a press conference on Saturday in the city.
Mr. Gowda told presspersons that the 2G spectrum allocation, helicopter purchase deal and coal block allocation were only a few in a series of scandals that the Congress was riddled with. If he (Mr. Moily) had any sense of morality, he should resign at least now.
Personality
Wondering why Mr. Moily was not ashamed of being part of such a government, Mr. Gowda said the Union Minister’s statement only reflected his personality. Mr. Gowda said he was proud to have been Chief Minister of Karnataka and he considered it a rare opportunity that came his way. There was nothing to be ashamed of it, he added.
Mr. Gowda said his party had released a realistic manifesto which had programmes that could be implemented. He said the party was sure to find the resources required to supply 25 kg of rice to the poor at Re 1 a kg. It would need Rs. 6,000 crore. He said the government had already made the necessary monetary arrangement and had decided to supply rice at Rs. 2 a kg but it could not be implemented since the election code of conduct kicked in.
