The former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president, H.D. Deve Gowda, on Saturday wondered why senior BJP leaders like L.K. Advani were silent on the charges of corruption against Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in regard to mining lease, land deal and misuse of power.
“I would request the BJP leaders, with folded hands, to the see what is going on in Karnataka. Why is the BJP not able to touch Mr. Yeddyurappa? What is the reason?” he sought to know.
Talking to The Hindu , he said his only request to Mr. Advani was that he should act tough against Mr. Yeddyurappa because the amount involved in the Karnataka mining lease scam was higher than the 2G spectrum issue. “I cannot blame Mr. Advani. We were together in jail for 13 months. I know him. I even wrote a letter to him [about Mr. Yeddyurappa].”
Every party, whether small or big, had problems. If Mr. Yeddyurappa was allowed to go scot-free, then he would destroy the whole BJP a la Duryodhana who finished off Kuruvamsha. . Corruption was not a partisan issue. “It is not an issue of the ruling party or the Opposition party.”
“No accountability”
Mr. Gowda alleged that there was no accountability for the money given to the Karnataka government. “Last year, Rs. 23,000 crore was given by the Union government, and that money was misused. Now, the Lokayukta is conducting an inquiry. The money was given for taking up various schemes of the Central government.”
On the land deal allegations made by Mr. Yeddyurappa against him and his son H.D. Kumaraswamy (former Karnataka Chief Minister), he said they were baseless and his family was ready to face any probe.
He was even ready to go to jail if the charges were proved against him. But why was no action taken against Mr. Yeddyurappa whose “corruption” was being highlighted daily by the media, he asked.
