Purported bribery audio tape puts BJP, Yeddyurappa in dock


Bengaluru, Feb 17 (IANS): A purported audio tape in Kannada has put the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leader B.S. Yeddyurappa in the dock. Its contents expose their desperation to topple the JD-S-Congress coalition government in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, due in April-May.

Defying the adage "once bitten, twice shy" Yeddyurappa not only got too ambitious only to get caught on the wrong foot but has also pushed the party into trouble by trying to lure a senior JD-S legislator to join the BJP.

Trying to fish in the troubled waters of the Congress, which is witnessing power struggle between state leadership and a dozen of legislators, including four rebels, the BJP made a desperate bid to dislodge the government to grab power or ensure a spell of President's Rule during the general elections.

According to a police complaint and a counter-complaint by the JD-S and the BJP, Yeddyurappa tried to "bribe" JD-S member Naganagouda Kandakur of Gurmitkal through the latter's son Sharanagouda at Devadurga on February 7.

Voices of BJP's two other legislators, Shivanagouda Naik from Devadurga and Preetham Gowda from Hassan, are also apparent in the tape offering "crores" to Sharanagouda to get his father Kandakur resign and contest from the same seat (Gurmitkal) on a BJP ticket in a by-election.

With Sharanagouda recording the conversation between him and the BJP trio and playing it to the media the next day (February 8) here in the presence of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the BJP and Yeddyurappa tried to wriggle out of the situation by first boycotting the 2019-20 budget presentation on February 8 and disrupting the 10-day session.

Going on offence to defend itself, the BJP protested against the state government's decision to inquire into the audio tape through a special investigation team (SIT) and sought a judicial or a House committee probe.

The state government rejected the BJP demand for a judicial probe into the veracity of the 80-minute audio tape and got the budget for fiscal 2019-20 passed in the Assembly by voice vote on Thursday amid the din caused by the opposition.

Though Yeddyurappa initially denied that the voice in the tape was his and accused the JD-S of producing a fabricated and distorted version, a damaging reference to Assembly speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar by Naik that he could be bribed Rs 50 crore for not disqualifying Kandakur in the event of defection to the BJP embarrassed him (the Speaker).

An attack on Preetham Gowda's house at Hassan, about 180 km from Bengaluru, on Wednesday, allegedly by JD-S workers in retaliation to the former's remarks against JD-S supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, as recorded in the audio tape, also led to the 104-member BJP group to disrupt the Assembly proceedings, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House ahead of the last day of the budget session on Friday.

However, the BJP continues to make a brave face. "The audio tape will have no bearing on our prospects in the Lok Sabha elections as the probe into it is by the police and not judiciary. Depending on outcome, we will challenge it in a court," BJP's state unit spokesman Vamanacharya told IANS here.

Even as the Congress heaved a sigh of relief with dissident and rebel legislators attending the Assembly on Wednesday and voting on the budget, the JD-S has been mocking the BJP for failing to topple the eight-month-old coalition government.

"The state government will not succeed in its bid to embarrass our party as courts will need presentable evidence, appearance of witnesses, which will only drag the case on. The audio tape will die its own death," said Vamanacharya.

Reiterating the demand for a judicial probe into the audio tape, the BJP leader said it was only the judiciary that has the right to give out the report on the issue as the police will be under pressure from the state government in the inquiry.

It's not the end of the story. Be ready to expect more such revelations and political cacophony as the Lok Sabha elections near.

  

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Comment on this article

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Mon, Feb 18 2019

    da astrologers of yeddy r playing musical chair songs & yeddy tries 2 sit on da chair, so far couldn't. hope he will sit in da jail 4 church attacks.

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Aparna Thingalaya, Udupi

    Mon, Feb 18 2019

    Its better BSY to Join either Cong or JDS.

    Let JDS, Cong make him CM.

    Poor Grandpa of 75 Years....Please give last chance....!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply Report Abuse

  • anthony, Mangalore

    Mon, Feb 18 2019

    Shamefull, Disgracefull and Disgusting is the conduct of YEddurappa and the BJP in Karnataka.

    Reply Report Abuse

  • SmR, Karkala

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    The Prime Minister Modi government in July 2016 in the Parliament has passed an anti-corruption Bill that provides for punishment to bribe givers and takers and extends prior nod for the prosecution to former public officials with the Lok Sabha given its assent to the law.
    The Bill provides for imprisonment from three to seven years, besides fine, to those convicted of taking bribes. Bribe givers have also been included in the legislation for the first time and they can be punished with imprisonment up to seven years, fine, or both.
    The Karnataka BJP party President who has served in jail for 21 days in the past for denotification and mining kickbacks has got bolden into more corrupt.
    1. If RJD leader can serve a life sentence in 'Fodder scam', how Yeddyurappa of BJP is still getting bail despite parliament passing the 'Anti-Corruption Bill'?
    2. What has happened to the Prime Minister Modi's 'corruption-free' India promise to the nation in 2014 elections?
    3. When the Doctored audio tape by Zee TV can be used against JNU for anti-national slogans, why BJP leaders are immune who are challenging the 'peoples mandate' and democratically elected government?
    4. Why now anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev were not going to fast till death to protest against corruption?
    Jai Hind

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Rohith, Mallikatte Mangalore

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    Hook or crook , before death he want to become CM. Shame on you budda, still you want to make money.

    Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    Money not got exchanged... So nothing will happen...

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    In this photograph BSY looks like a "Gomukha Vyagra"

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Kirem, Kirem

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    Same go mukha vyghra whom "punya koti " met??

    Reply Report Abuse

  • JNB, Mangalore-Mamubai

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    All because of the Astrologer.

    Reply Report Abuse

  • ummar, mangalore

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    Dump Bjp in Grabage they are good for fake things, fake promises, operration kamala..

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    ummar, mangalore
    You can also say the same things Politely ...

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Yenku, Panambur

    Mon, Feb 18 2019

    Ok, dump them in Arabian sea........................

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Feb 17 2019

    He's 75 & has lost his Memory ...

    Reply Report Abuse


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