BENGALURU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA R Ashoka on Wednesday met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and filed a complaint after it surfaced that AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala had attended an official meeting involving BDA and BBMP officials chaired by Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.
Speaking to media persons after filing the complaint, the former minister said, “He (Surjewala) attended a meeting of the state government. He was debating with officials of the Urban Development Department. How can he participate in such a meeting?. I can show you the rule book as well”, he said.
The BJP leader alleged that they (Congress) want to turn Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into an ATM. “Modi ji and Amit Shah ji had voiced fears that they would make the civic body into an ATM. The Congress has started the process already. That is why we lodged a complaint with the governor”, he added.
On Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara claiming that it was an unofficial meeting with Surjewala held at a private hotel, the BJP leader said, “A government officer is a government officer. A police officer is a police officer. Four ministers were present at the meeting. Many officials were there as well, not one or two”. The governor has accepted our letter. He promised to inquire into it and send his guidelines to the government and the chief secretary”, Ashoka added.
Earlier in the day, Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) leader and former chief minister and H D Kumaraswamy had hit out at the Congress for allowing Randeep Surjewala attend the official meeting.
Coming down heavily on Surjewala, Kumaraswamy asked, “Who is Surjewala to hold a government meeting of ministers and senior officials? Is the government in the state led by Siddaramaiah or 10 Janpath Road in Delhi? Did the Kannadigas vote for a ‘Hand’ government or a puppet government? It has been proved that this is a high command government even before it completes a month in power”, Kumaraswamy said in a tweet.
Sharing a photo of Surjewala with Shivakumar and other ministers of the state cabinet, Kumaraswamy called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to come out with an explanation.
https://twitter.com/hd_kumaraswamy/status/1668610326194184193
“There is a senior minister in the meeting! Senior IAS officers are also present!! It became an official meeting. But, there is Surjewala in the center seat! Ministers have side seats!! Is this strange? Hon’ble Chief Minister should answer,” he tweeted. (ANI)