Kumaraswamy: BJP taking Rs 500 cr from mining baron to bail him out

JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday said the BJP has struck a quid pro quo deal with an influential mining tycoon in Karnataka.

Addressing party workers during the official inauguration of JP Bhavan — the party’s new office in the city, Kumaraswamy targeted former Minister G Janardhana Reddy without naming him. “The miner who looted the state's natural resources has agreed to spend Rs 500 crore during the Assembly polls in Karnataka. In return, the BJP will exonerate him from all charges,” he said while referring to the recent high court decision to return Reddy’s property confiscated by the Enforcement Directorate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has so far not questioned why and for what reasons the property is being returned, he said.

“Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah have decided to flood the state with money during the 2018 Assembly elections,” Kumaraswamy said assuring the party workers he will put an end to BJP's winning streak.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, while referring to new Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, said: “Now, they (BJP) have made a mutt head as CM. We don't know what is in the store in future.”

Kumaraswamy said he would go on a padayatra if the state government fails to announce farm loan waiver.