Bengaluru, Sep 1 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Karnataka Leader of Opposition (LoP), R. Ashoka, on Tuesday claimed that another Minister in the Congress government would be forced to resign in connection with the alleged Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam, referring to the resignation of former Minister B. Nagendra in the tribal welfare scam.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Ashoka said several Congress leaders were allegedly involved in the KPSC scam and claimed that more evidence would emerge in the coming days.
“Many leaders from the Congress are involved in the KPSC scam. Many documents have been released and, according to me, another wicket is most likely to fall within the Congress-led Karnataka government,” he added.
Referring to Minister B. Nagendra’s resignation in connection with alleged tribal welfare scam, Ashoka said the Congress government had already lost one “wicket” and alleged that another Minister was now set to face the same fate.
“Within three months of D.K. Shivakumar taking charge as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, one wicket has fallen. Another wicket is all set to fall,” the LoP added.
Describing the KPSC recruitment scam as a major scam, Ashoka alleged that influential people were behind it and would soon be exposed.
“The KPSC scam is a big scam. Behind this, there are whales and sharks, and they will be exposed sooner,” he said.
Responding to Ashoka’s allegations, Karnataka’s Home, IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge dismissed the claims and launched a counterattack, saying BJP leaders were effectively giving the Congress “full toss balls” to hit.
Laughing at LoP Ashoka’s “wicket” remark, Priyank Kharge said, “Whose photo has come out? They are bowlers in the BJP and they are giving us full toss balls. We are getting free hits. No matter who the umpire is, it is they who will be out.”
The Minister added that he was ready to face any allegations concerning his role in the KPSC recruitment process.
“I want to ask Ashoka ji, if you want to take out my wicket, let them take it out,” he said.
Kharge then questioned the BJP over the alleged links of Basavaraj Kannale, the accused in the KPSC scam case, with BJP leaders.
He referred to photographs of Kannale wearing a shawl that Kharge said was similar to those worn by Ashoka and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and alleged that the shawl also carried the BJP’s symbol.
“The people are asking about the middleman caught in Bidar, Basavaraj Kannale. He is wearing a shawl similar to yours (R. Ashoka) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s. The shawl in the photographs also has the party (BJP) symbol,” Kharge added.
He also alleged that photographs showed Kannale sitting with three BJP MLAs at a meeting, cutting cakes with BJP leaders and being present inside the kitchens of BJP leaders.
“Despite all this, he says Priyank Kharge’s wicket will fall,” the Karnataka Home Minister said ironically.
The exchange comes amid a political escalation over the alleged KPSC recruitment scam, with the BJP demanding accountability from the Congress government and the ruling party questioning the alleged links between some accused persons and BJP leaders.
–IANS
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