Quit as MP till you clear name, Congress tells Ananth Kumar

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman G C Chandrashekhar said though there were report of his alleged links with Radia when he was Civil Aviation Minister, Ananth Kumar is not giving an explanation openly.

"As one who is from Karnataka and an MP from Bangalore, it's important that he gives information to the people of the State", he said.

Chandrashekhar alleged that when Ananth Kumar was the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Radia got a nod from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to start an airline with a share capital of Rs one lakh, while the norm at the time was that it should be Rs 30 crore.

"For her success in getting this nod, was there a hand of Ananth Kumar? Why is he not giving an open explanation to the people?", he asked.

Chandrashekhar said there were also allegations that Ananth Kumar shared Cabinet decisions with Radia. "Is it not wrong?".

"Till he is cleared of this issue, it's better he quits as member of Lok Sabha", he said.

Meanwhile, the Congress has sought to mock at Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa for "conflicting statements" and said it's better for him to take rest as he appears to be "strained".

Chandrashekhar said Yeddyurappa keeps saying that he works for 18 hours a day. The Chief Minister talks of keenness to shift to national politics but on other occasions, maintains that he would ensure that BJP won 150 seats in the next Assembly elections and that "he will be Chief Minister for 20 years". Recently, in Shikaripura, his constituency, he also said he would not step into the area if people did not vote for his party.

"Chief Minister should speak in a responsible manner. These statements have created confusion among the people. He should take rest because he is very much strained", Chandrashekhar added.