Karnataka Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday lashed out at the BJP for accusing him of being involved in a hawala network that funded the All India Congress Committee.
Shivakumar, who was admitted to a Bengaluru hospital with food poisoning, convened a press meet within hours after BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra held a press meet in Delhi. Patra alleged that Karnataka had become an ATM for the Congress party, and that the Gandhi family has been receiving black money through hawala route.
An angry Shivakumar claimed that he had not received any notice from the Enforcement Directorate so far and that he has not committed any crime.
"I am happy that BJP has admitted its role in the IT raids conducted on my properties, and is misusing autonomous institutions. The IT raids were conducted one year back, but why did the ED not file a case till date? On August 2, 2017, when Gujarat MLAs were staying at a resort here as my guests during the Rajya Sabha elections, there was one of the biggest raids across 82 places. This is a political conspiracy to defame me and my party. But let me tell you, I am not a coward to run away."
"Being a law abiding citizen, I cooperated with the authorities. I am ready to face consequences. They want my blood. I will come out clean," said Shivakumar.
Elaborating on the IT raids at his residence in Delhi, Shivakumar said, "I have not committed any mistake. The IT sleuths claim to have found some cash at my friends' places. I have already accepted that cash worth Rs 41 lakh found in my residence belongs to me and I have disclosed the source. Every rupee has been accounted for. I am aware of the law of this country. Everything is clear. When the raids happened, they tortured my family and well wishers."
Upset by Patra's allegation that the initials 'SG' and 'RG' found in Shivakumar's diary refer to the Gandhi family members, Shivakumar warned the BJP against dragging his party or the party leaders into the case.
"I have not paid any money to my party or party leaders. Don't drag in their names. I have not done any illegal activities. Have you forgotten the diaries of Jain, Sahara and Advani? Yeddyurappa too received cheques from a company as kickback. BJP leaders have to answer all these before making false claims against me. 'RG' and 'SG' in my diary is fabricated just like Govindraju's diary. The officials are under pressure and they have taken confessional statements from my staff (Hanumnathaiah) and friends by force, which they have now retracted. I am cooperating. I am clear in my thought and heart. I am a loyal Congressman," asserted the minister.
Reacting strongly to state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa's statement that Shivakumar would be jailed soon, the Vokkaliga strongman, who takes the credit for holding the Congress MLAs together during the formation of the JD(S)-Congress coalition, said the BJP is desperate as it is out of power.
"Yeddyurappa is daydreaming of toppling the coalition government. I know how many crores and positions BJP is offering our MLAs. I will get them to address a press meet with me. I know the secret behind this entire drama. Even if I am sent behind bars, they cannot form the government."
In response to a question, Shivakumar asked why he had to resign as demanded by the BJP. "Why should I resign? What wrong have I done? The BJP had announced a jailbird as their chief ministerial candidate and even the national president [of the party] had been to jail. No chargesheet has been filed in my case and I have not committed any crime."
Shivakumar hinted that he too had diaries that would expose many people. "The BJP's behaviour has forced me to speak out. The BJP spokesman does not know what documents have been recovered from my house. Let ED and other agencies summon me. I will show the diaries. It does not pertain to Karnataka alone but the entire country. I wanted to lay low. I did not want to damage anybody. But now I had to speak," said the minister, who added that he would be readmitted to the hospital as he is still indisposed.
