The BJP today hit out at the Congress leadership after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah rejected its demand for sacking minister K J George, and wondered if top party leaders had forced his hand as George is a major fund-raiser.
BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao alleged that George, who has been named as an accused by the CBI in the death of a police official, is a Siddaramaiah's conduit to the top Congress brass.
"So he is helpless in acting against him. Siddaramaiah should tell people what is his compulsion in continuing with a tainted minister facing grave charges and if his hands have been forced by the Congress leadership as George is a major fund-raiser," Rao said.
Siddaramaiah's defence of his minister is a sign of utter shamelessness, and his claim of political vendetta exhibits a lack of sensitivity for the family of Deputy Superintendent of Police M K Ganapathy, who died under mysterious circumstances last year, he said.
Rao pointed that it was the Supreme Court which had ordered a CBI probe in the case and said that it reflected the court's lack of faith in the state police's report, which had given the minister a clean chit.
"His continuation in the office would not only prevent a free and fair probe but is also in complete violation of basic political ethics," he said, adding that Ganapathy "had named George as a threat to his life barely one hour before his death".
Siddaramaiah has rejected BJP's demand for resignation of George, saying the case was "totally politically motivated".
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)