Bengaluru: Karnataka Rural Development Minister KS Eshwarppa who had to resign from his post following the row over the alleged suicide of a BJP contractor Santosh Patil has claimed that there was "some conspiracy and low-level politics" against him by people who wanted to bring him down.
Speaking to reporters at his Race Course Road residence, Eshwarappa said: "I don't want any embarrassment further in the matter. There is some conspiracy angle behind this episode. Someone has conspired...Legally the allegations stand out nowhere. Someone is doing low-level politics." "There are some people who were against me and wanted to bring me down. Those who conspired, their names will be out. An allegation was being made against me. Hence, I should come clean. For me, proving my innocence is important," he said.
"My continuation as the minister when the investigation has been going on may be construed as I might influence the investigation. So, I have resigned from my post. I am confident that I will be proved innocent and become the minister again," Eshwarappa said. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday night accepted Eshwarappa's resignation. Later, the resignation was forwarded to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot for acceptance.
Following Eshwarappa's resignation, Congress is now more confident of raking up the corruption issue against the saffron party in the state. In the contractor's suicide, Congress found a solid issue to counter the state BJP over corruption charges ahead of assembly polls next year. Recently, Rahul Gandhi launched the party’s poll campaign when he attacked the state government accusing it of demanding a 40 per cent commission from contractors in all government contracts.
The issue took a serious turn when Santosh Patil, who had alleged that Eshwarappa’s associates had asked for 40 per cent commission to clear his bills, was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on April 12. Congress slammed the state and the central government over the matter and demanded a probe by a Supreme Court judge since Santosh had blamed Eshwarappa in his suicide note.
Soon after, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai ordered a police investigation into the case saying an impartial inquiry will be conducted but the Congress was not convinced. AICC secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Kuldeep Rai Sharma said the party had been highlighting the issue of corruption in state government contracts for a long time and will continue to raise every issue affecting the people of the state.
Following it, AICC in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala demanded the arrest of minister Eshwarappa and targeted the top BJP leadership. Eshwarappa, who was adamant about not giving up his post, had to resign following the pressure from the opposition. Congress, according to sources, is not going to stop here and is planning to "expose" more BJP leaders.
Rahul Gandhi, who recently visited the state, had suggested to party workers and leaders that it was not enough to tell people only about the development programs that were taking place when Congress was in power in the centre and state. "If we want to settle in the hearts of the people, we have to tell them about the corruption the BJP government is involved in, and how the party is wasting people's money," he said.
Read: Eshwarappa resigns as Minister, Congress demands his arrest
