Yeddyurappa terms Cong's allegations on his 'diary' as atrocious, threatens to file defamation suit

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Mar 22 (ANI): After the Congress levelled corruption allegations against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, the leader on Friday came down heavily on the party terming the accusations as "atrocious" and "malicious" and threatened to file a defamation case.

"The Congress party and its leaders are bankrupt of issues and ideas. They do not have any development issues to discuss in public. They are frustrated with the growing popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP," Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

"Congress leaders have realised that defeat in 2019 polls is imminent. They lost the battle before it began," he added.

Citing a news magazine report, the Congress alleged that some top leaders of the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had received Rs 1,800 crore from Yeddyurappa.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala claimed that there was a diary which had mentioned about payments allegedly made to the BJP's Central Committee which includes Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari, besides the Prime Minister.

The diary also purportedly contains Yeddyurappa's handwriting and signatures, Surjewala alleged.

In response, Yeddyurappa said that an inquiry had found the documents, as cited by Surjewala, "fake".

"I.T. (Income Tax) department officials have already probed the issue and found that the documents and signature and handwritten notes are forged," the former Karnataka Chief Minister said.

"The Congress leaders are apt in carrying out all these atrocious and malicious campaigns. They planted the story in the media to gain political mileage in the coming elections, I am discussing with my senior advocates to file a defamation case against the concerned persons," the BJP leader said.

Surjewala, basing his allegations and contentions on the media report, claimed that the diary is reportedly with the Income Tax department since August 2017 but no probe had been conducted so far.

"The diary is with the Income Tax department since August 2017. The officials of the department have even approached the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with it, seeking an inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and for the forensic examination but nothing happened," said Surjewala.

"If it is true, then why Prime Minister Modi and all top leaders of BJP have not ordered an inquiry and get it investigated," he said.

He added that since the Lokpal was now in place, it can be the first test case of the anti-corruption ombudsman.