Bangarappa wants Ashoka to step down

Former Chief Minister S Bangarappa has demanded home minister R Ashoka to immediately step down. “It is impossible for them to conduct an impartial investigation as the Lokayukta police come under the control of the home ministry.”

Bangarappa, who celebrated his 79th birthday on Wednesday, said: “An FIR has been lodged against Ashoka on his involvement in the land denotification case. I am of the view that those who are chargesheeted should not continue to hold office till they come out clean.”

Replying to a query on his political rival in Shimoga, BS Yeddyurappa having been pushed to jail, Bangarappa said he was not the kind who would rejoice the imprisonment of any leader. “I have always maintained that decorum in my conduct throughout my 45-year-long political career. I am neither happy nor sad at his arrest,” he said.

JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy, who greeted Bangarappa on the occasion, denied reports that he had adopted a soft approach towards the BJP government. “Yeddyurappa would not have been in jail today had I adopted a soft approach towards BJP.”