29 November,2010 06:40 AM IST | | B V Shiva Shankar
Upset over Suresh Kumar supporting the Lokayukta's stand, BS Yeddyurappa hurled abuses at him when the two met at the former's residence yesterday
Seems like the series of misfortunes rocking the government, and the land scam not over by a long shot seems to have really gotten to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
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Suresh Kumar was eying his post. File pic
Sources say that Yeddyurappa hurled abuses at Law Minister S Suresh Kumar for having supported the Lokayukta's stand regarding investigation on land scam, yesterday.
According to sources closed to him, Yeddyurappa was livid, when Kumar met him at his residence yesterday, with a suggestion toeing the lines of Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde, who is arguing that the constitution of the Padmaraj commission to probe into the land scam is illegal.
The government had announced the enquiry commission to investigate the land scams right from 1994, while the scams linking relatives of Yeddyurappa had almost cost his position. Hegde cried foul, saying he was already investigating the same scam and the law required the government to inform him before constituting the commission.
Hegde is pressing for withdrawal of the government order on the constitution of the commission before taking his consent to go ahead with a fresh investigation.
Kumar had said on Saturday that he would consult the advocate general before taking a decision on the issue. Sources say that while Ashok Harnahalli, advocate general, supports the government in public, he privately endorses the Lokayukta's views.
"Yeddyurappa was so furious that he hurled abuses at Sureshkumar," said the source. "There was heated argument between the two, following which Kumar walked out."
Eye on CM's chair?
Yeddyurappa is fuming since Kumar's name did rounds for the CM's post, last week, when the former was in the line of fire in the wake of media reports exposing the land scam.
Yeddyurappa was upset when he heard about Kumar's family distributing sweets. "Yesterday's outburst was proof enough," said the source.
Neither Yeddyurappa or Kumar were available for comments. Hegde refused to say anything about the incident.
"I am neither enemy to Yeddyurappa nor a friend to Kumar.
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I just want the government to follow the law of the land. If Kumar supports the view, he is welcome. Hope the Chief Minister also realises this," said Hegde.
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Yeddyurappa has written to BJP MLAs, who had threatened to protest against Lokayukata accusing him of joining hands with the opposition parties, not to pursue with their plan to stage a dharna in front of Lokayukta office. He, in his letter, has instructed the legislators not to embarrass Lokayukta, as he held the institution at high esteem.
Reacting to the letter, Hegde said, sarcastically, "Good that the chief minister realised now. It would have even better had he advised this to his colleagues, when they had verbally attacked the institution many times in the past."
| Fists of fury |
| > Yeddyurappa's bodyguard had said the chief minister had punched his driver a few days before he got slapped. |
