Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, on Friday said the government had not yet taken any decision on granting prosecution permission in matters concerning former minister B. Nagendra, in connection with the tribal welfare case and against BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy, stating that the files had been received and were yet to be examined in detail.
Addressing media in Bengaluru, CM Shivakumar said the government would examine the allegations, legal aspects and whether due procedure had been followed before taking any decision.
“As far as prosecution permission is concerned, I have not taken any decision yet. I have not even examined those files,” CM Shivakumar said.
He said the files concerning former minister Nagendra, BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy and others also had been sent to him by the Governor.
“All the files have come to me. I am not saying that they have not. The Governor has sent them to me. I have to examine them and look at them legally, to see whether there is any substance in the allegations, whether everything is legally proper, and whether the proper procedure has been followed,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he would examine all the matters before arriving at a decision.
“I will examine all of that. I have taken decisions only after examining such matters,” he said.
On the resignation of former Minister B. Nagendra, Shivakumar said that he had resigned voluntarily.
Nagendra, who was facing allegations in connection with the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation-related case, had resigned from the Cabinet earlier.
Reacting to claims that there were attempts to end his political career, Shivakumar said he was satisfied that he had succeeded despite such allegations.
“Some people are saying that they will finish me off politically. I am happy that I have succeeded, because I have done nothing wrong,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that if anyone had committed a mistake, they should face punishment, including himself.
“If I have committed any mistake, everyone should be punished. I should also be punished,” Shivakumar said.
His remarks came amid continuing political exchanges over the allegations against Nagendra and the government’s handling of prosecution-related matters.
Shivakumar also said the government was not insisting that the proposed tunnel project should necessarily pass through Lalbagh and maintained that alternative routes were being considered.
“It is not that I want to trouble Lalbagh or that I insist that a tunnel should pass through only Lalbagh. We are considering other locations as well. You give an alternative,” he said.
(IANS)
