Shivakumar rejects BJP’s demand for Priyank Kharge’s resignation, says he is ‘our Dalit leader’

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has rejected the BJP’s demand for the resignation of minister Priyank Kharge and said the party leaders “know his integrity”.

“We know the integrity of Priyank Kharge, the investigation is going on. There is no question of anyone resigning. Priyank Kharge is our Dalit leader. It is not possible (to hand over the case to CBI), we know how CBI works. Our police and officials are capable of doing the investigation”, Shivakumar said.

He was responding to a query about Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra’s remarks that that Bidar contractor’s alleged suicide case should be handed over to CBI and Priyanka Kharge should resign. Priyank Kharge is the son of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

“Many leaders and others take pictures with us, does it mean we have a relation with them? Our government is clean, they (BJP) don’t have anything, that’s why they’re speaking in this way”, Shivakumar said.

“the BJP government gave only my case to CBI…Priyank Kharge is our government’s vocal minister, he’s a Dalit leader who is emerging and he’s doing best in IT and BT, that’s why they’re trying all this, it’s not the case for CBI. I have read all about CBI when they sent me to jail, we know how CBI is working. Our police and officials are capable to do the investigation”, he added.

Minister Priyank Kharge’s aide Raju Kapanur had reportedly promised the contractor tenders and taken lakhs of rupees from him.

Earlier, Priyank Kharge strongly criticized the BJP for allegedly politicizing the suicide of a contractor in Bidar. Speaking on the tragic incident, Priyank Kharge stated that the situation is clear and the views of both the contractor and the accused should be thoroughly investigated.

“It’s very clear that BJP is trying to politicise a suicide by a contractor. It is clear that the contractor has a view about the incident and the accused has a view about the incident”, Kharge said in his statement.

He emphasized the importance of an impartial investigation to uncover the truth behind the incident. Priyank Kharge also pointed out that the BJP’s reaction was politically motivated, asserting that the party’s previous tenure had seen several contractor suicides.”The BJP can do whatever it wants. Everyone knows what they did and how many contractors committed suicide during their tenure”, he added.

Vijayendra Yediyurappa has attacked the Congress alleging that Sachin Panchal, a contractor from Bidar, died by suicide due to harassment and threats from Priyank Kharge’s close aide Raju Kapanur. He claimed that Sachin left behind a detailed letter highlighting his ordeal. (ANI)