As the news of income tax raids came in, rebel Congress leaders have decided to stick to the party and support Siddharamiah
As the news of income tax raids came in, rebel Congress leaders have decided to stick to the party and support Siddharamiah
The extensive raids on Reddy brothers and their BJP loyalists are a gift from the Congress' high command to pacify an upset Siddharamiah and his cohorts, claim party insiders. "Siddaramiah was upset that his efforts to strengthen the party were not being recognised," said a source. "He was feeling that the high command had him down, which discouraged him from taking on the BJP. The I-T raids have come as some relief for a demotivated Siddaramiah," he added.
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| Shall we go in?: Personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force outside Health Minister Sriramulu's residence near Basaveshwara Circle that was raided by I-T officials yesterday. As the news of raids spread, Congress leaders met in the city, and decided to back Siddaramaiah in taking on the BJP aggressively. Pic/Satish Badiger |
Income tax investigators conducted raids yesterday at 60 places across the state and the targets were BJP legislators identified as Tourism Minister G Janadanau00a0 Reddy aides. MLAs Suresh Babu, V Nagendra were among them, while even the residences of Health Minister Sriramulu and legal advisor to the Reddys, Ramanujachayalu were raided.
Siddaramaiah wanted the high command to recogniseu00a0 him as a chief ministerial candidate after he led a walkathon from Bangalore to Bellary protesting against illegal mining in August. The cold response of the high command miffed him and he had went to the extent of tendering his resignation as the legislator party leader after the party failed miserably in the by-polls held recently.
He was also discouraged when he joined hands with the JD(S) to topple the BJP government. His supporters in the party were so frustrated that they hinted at leaving the party. Legislators including Satish Jarakiholi, Malikayya Guttedar offered to resign to build pressure on the high command.
"The high command didn't want take chances and decided to boost the moral of the local leaders," said the source. "The IT raids are a first step, while a lot more action is in the offing." As the news of the I-T raids spread, Congress leaders met in the city, and decided to back Siddaramaiah in taking on the BJP aggressively. The legislators threatening to quit changed their stand.
Guttedar had said that he would take final decision on his resignation after meeting Siddaramaiah. He said after the meeting, "We will now get justice as we now expect the high command strengthening his hands. So I have decided not to quit the Congress for now."
B S Shivanna, a close associate of Siddaramaiah, said, "Siddaramaiah wanted the ill-gotten wealth of the mining lords be exposed and they be punished. He expressed this to the Prime Minister and the national president of the party. His voice is heard now and the credit goes to the walkathon."
He said the IT raids were Siddaramaiah's first demand that was met, and the high command would fulfill his other demands in steps in the future.
| Busy day at the I-T office |
| >>Offices of the Income Tax Department bore a deserted look, as most of the staffers had gone on the major I-T raids, which were conducted on the houses and offices of BJP MLAs since early morning. Sources at the department said that more than 200 officers are involved in the raids. Officers from Delhi had also arrived for the same."
>>The sources added that the raids were well planned. The raids were conducted in Bangalore, Bellary, Hospet, Sandur, Hubli and Belgaum. The houses of the PAs of Karunakara Reddy and Janardhana Reddy were raided in Bellary district.
>>Officers were asked to carry their baggage as the raids would continue for two to three days, according to sources. Several documents have allegedly been seized and several bank accounts have been frozen. |
