Bangalore:
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka minister and son of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, denied all allegations leveled by the BJP in connection with the suicide of a contractor in the state and said he is waiting for the forensic test report on the eight-page note left by Sachin Panchal. The note, which claims he has received threats from Raju Kapanur – who the BJP claims is a close aide of Priyank Kharge – also alleges a conspiracy to kill a BJP MLA.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Mr Kharge said the note contains a huge discrepancy that deserves investigation.
“It's an eight-page note, where the seventh page is signed. This is the eighth page which mentions the conspiracy theory to kill ex-MLA or MLA,” he said. 'I think this is a delusion. These kinds of things don't happen in Karnataka. This is not UP Bihar or a BJP-ruled state. Let the FSL report come out,” he added.
When asked if he knew the contractor, he categorically denied. When asked if he has any connection with Raju Kapanur as claimed by the BJP, he said the note “mentioned eight people, some of whom are from my party”.
“We didn't deny it. I said that one of the accused is a brother of a Congress corporator. Unlike the BJP, we have nothing to hide. We are very clear about what happened. I have asked for a free and fair investigation. he added.
Asked about the BJP's demands for a CBI probe into the matter, he said whenever investigations have been handed over to the CBI under a Congress government, the Central Agency has confirmed the findings of the state police.
While the BJP has a “renewed love for the CBI in opposition-ruled states”, he wondered whether the party could have produced even a shred of evidence against the government or against him. “They are doing hit-and-run politics. I double challenge the BJP to prove anything against me or the government.”
Mr Kharge pointed out that unlike the other contractor who committed suicide during the rule of the former BJP-led government, “appointing and shaming ministers”, the suicide note this time makes no mention of him.
In the note, Sachin Panchal, a contractor from Bidar, had alleged that Raju Kapanur had demanded Rs 1 crore from him, of which he had paid Rs 15 lakh. He also alleged that Congress leaders had conspired to kill several people, including Siddalinga Swami of Andola Math, BJP leaders Manikanth Rathod and Chandu Patil.
Terming the BJP as a divided house, Mr Kharge said the party now only plans to use a smokescreen to cover up their own factionalism and shortcomings.