Despite being booked for abetment of suicide over the death of a civil contractor on Tuesday, Karnataka Minister K.S. Eshwarappa has refused to step down.
Santosh Patil, a contractor and BJP activist, allegedly committed suicide at a lodge in Udupi on Tuesday. He had accused Eshwarappa of demanding bribes for clearing pending payments. Eshwarappa holds the ministerial portfolio of rural development and panchayat raj. Opposition parties, such as the Congress and JD(S), have launched protests demanding his resignation.
On Wednesday, Eshwarappa refuted the allegations against him and also referred to the suicide note purportedly sent by Santosh Patil. “It is the Congress which has been saying Eshwarappa should resign. There is no note but they are spreading lies that there's a death note and then asking for resignation. The death note here is typed on WhatsApp. Whether Santosh typed or someone else did is not known, but it says 'Eshwarappa is the sole reason for my death'. Using that copy, Congress is saying the death note is there,” Eshwarappa was quoted as saying by The News Minute. Eshwarappa was speaking to reporters in Shivamogga.
“If they [Congress] are asking for my resignation, I will definitely not give my resignation,” Eshwarappa was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Eshwarappa alleged there was a conspiracy behind the incident. “He [Patil] has given letters to (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj [Singh], alleging I have done work worth Rs 4 crore and Eshwarappa's aides are asking for bribe. They have written to the state department in Karnataka. But we have written that there is no work order,” Eshwarappa was quoted as saying by The News Minute.
Eshwarappa said he had not even seen Santosh Patil's face once.
Earlier on Wednesday, there were reports Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai could seek Eshwarappa's resignation.
