Nanaiah cautions CM against lobby in Palike

JD(S) legislator M C Nanaiah on Friday cautioned Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda against the lobby in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, and said any laxity on his part might cost him dear.

Nanaiah, who was arguing the futility of ordering a CID probe into the Rs 1,539-crore BBMP scam, cautioned Gowda that those behind the scam could dislodge him from his post.

“The lobby in the Palike is more powerful than that in your party. I know it may cause trouble for you if you aren’t too careful,” he said. He, however, didn’t substantiate his remarks. Gowda should also be more alert when his officials are briefing him about the scam, he added.

Nanaiah reiterated his demand for a CBI or a Lokayukta probe into the scam, despite his reservations about the Lokayukta police.

“I wouldn’t be speaking so lightly of the Lokayukta police if the Lokayukta had been appointed. The Lokayukta police have become another wing of the government,” he said, adding that the recent two reports (‘B’ reports filed in investigations against B S Yeddyurappa and R Ashoka) stood testimony to it.

He urged the government to extend the scope of inquiry to all the 26 divisions of the Palike, as recommended by former commissioner, Siddaiah. He said it was not just the officers, engineers and middlemen who were involved in the scam, but the elected representatives too were guilty.
Gowda said he would furnish his reply to the House on Monday.