Tainted ministers face heat

The winter session of the state legislature is showing all signs of making life miserable for home minister R Ashoka, housing minister V Somanna, and medium and large industries minister Murugesh Nirani, as the opposition JD(S) has mounted a scathing against these ministers facing charges of corruption in Lok Ayukta court.

JD(S) floor leader in legislative council MC Nanaiah raising the issue urged chairman DH Shankaramurthy to debar the three ministers from attending the proceedings. He refused to accept any replies furnished by them for any issues raised by the opposition.

Nanaiah’s demand led to heated arguments between the BJP members and the opposition. Ashoka rejected Nanaiah’s demand by citing an affidavit filed by union government in the Supreme Court stating that there was no rule barring the ministers, who are facing a probe on corruption charges, from discharging their duties as ministers.

Nanaiah questioned BJP national leader LK Advani’s demand for resignation of Union home minister P Chidambaram on corruption charge when the three ministers in state cabinet continued in their posts while Lok Ayukta was probing the cases against them.

Chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda was forced to appeal to Nanaiah to allow the house to transact its business instead of plunging the house in acrimony. Opposition is expected to intensify its attack on BJP leaders who are facing corruption charges by demanding a discussion on corruption issues related to BJP ministers.