KA-KUMARASWAMY

Kumaraswamy accuses BJP of trying to topple his government
Bengaluru, Sep 14 (PTI) Accusing the BJP of attempting to
topple his government,Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy
Friday warned of legal action against "certain kingpins' who,
he claimed, were trying to bribe Congress and JD(S) MLAs to
pull down his ministry.
Amid media reports that certain resorts were ready to
host some Congress and JD(S) MLAs in the alleged toppling game
following internal dissent in the Congress, Kumaraswamy
asserted he was ready to face any challenge to his government.
"Whether they keep the resorts or shanties ready, I am
ready for everything," he told reporters.
"Presently payments are being made in advance. I won't
say more now. You will get to know about it later," he said.
The Chief Minister alleged that certain "kingpins" had
been roped in to topple his government.
"Am I not aware of it? Will I keep quiet? Don't I know
where the money is being collected and who the kingpins are
behind collecting money? I have already initiated measures
necessary for legal action.
I will take every decision to give a strong and stable
government," he said.
    Without mentioning names, Kumaraswamy said that "these
kingpins" were into gambling, had abetted a coffee planter in
killing his wife and son and were those who had set a
Bengaluru municipal office on fire nine years ago.
These people were collecting money to topple his
government, he alleged.
Asked why no action has been taken against those trying
to 'topple' the government, Kumaraswamy said he was not at all
disturbed by what was going on and felt quite comfortable
watching this 'futile exercise'.
He also took a jibe at the state BJP for issuing one
deadline after the other,predicting the end of the government.
"The next deadline is Monday. Most probably the deadline
will extend to October 2 and then to Dasara. I think it will
go on extending," Kumaraswamy quipped.
The BJP trashed the charges, saying that it had never
indulged in any such activities.
Former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok challenged the chief
minister to spell out the names of those trying to destabilise
the government, instead of using words like 'kingpin'.
"We don't have such intentions and do not want to get into
such activities. We will think of forming the government only
if it collapses on its own due to internal strife," he said.
Meanwhile, JDS' coalition partner Congress said it has
decided to lodge a complaint with the Income Tax department
and Anti-Corruption Bureau, seeking a probe into reports that
crores of Rupees has changed hands for the toppling game.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, deputy Chief Minister
G Parameshwara said "reports have emerged in the media that Rs
100 crore has been exchanged".
He said Congress has decided to lodge a complaint with
the I-T department and ACB to find out the facts.
"Certain reports have stated that this person has taken
money...another has received money and speculate that a
certain number of people (MLAs) are leaving (the party).
So we decided to complain to the Income Tax Department
and the state Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the
veracity of the reports," Parameswara said.
He dismissed any threat to the coalitiongovernment.
On Congress MLA Satish Jarkiholi's statement that
hisbrother and minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has his own faction
within the party, he accused the media of blowing his
statement out of proportion.
    "There is no such thing. Yesterday also I made this
very clear to H D Devegowda and H D Kumaraswamy when I met
them at theirhomes.
I told them that there is no major problem as projected.
I reiterate that the government is stable" Parameshwara said.
Congress has been hit by internal dissent, triggered by a
faction of MLAs led by minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is
locked in a turf war with another minister D K Shivakumar.
The Jarkiholi brothers' activities have led to
speculations that BJP was fishing in troubled waters and was
in touch with them to dislodge the government.
The siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying
to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA
Laxmi Hebbalkar. PTI GMS RA APR
APR APR