BJP suspends MLC for mud-slinging

Just days after withdrawing his allegation, BJP legislator K Janardhana Reddy on Wednesday charged Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy again with collecting Rs 150 crore from a section of the mining lobby. Consequently, Reddy has been suspended from the party.

Last week, Reddy had said that he had been 'misled' on the issue. "Some people claiming to be supporters of the chief minister have collected the money. Kumaraswamy has no role in this," Reddy had said.

However, in a complete turnaround, Reddy told reporters, in the presence of Congress leaders that Kumaraswamy, forest minister C Chennigappa and home minister M P Prakash and his son had accepted the bribe to transfer Bellary superintendent of police Pankaj Kumar Thakur, who was investigating the illegal mining.

Enraged by his actions, the Karnataka BJP suspended Reddy from the party and apprised the party's national leaders of this development. BJP leaders suspect Congress' involvement in the episode.

The bribery issue brought the proceedings in the legislature to a standstill for two weeks. The government could not transact any business and even the state budget (2006-07) was approved without discussion. The legislature session was adjourned sine die on Wednesday.

Kumaraswamy said that politicians who alter their stand cannot be trusted. "It reflects their ethics in life. I have nothing to say. It is unfortunate that Congress, which claims to have a glorious history has stooped down to this level. Congress should not have stalled the proceedings in the legislature," he added.