JOIN USMumtaz Ali Khan quits as MLC, joins Congress
Former minister Mumtaz Ali Khan, who had hopped from the BJP to the KJP, has now settled for the Congress. Reason: He is opposed to the BJP’s move to declare Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi its prime ministerial candidate. Incidentally, the KJP has expressed its support for Modi.
He was nominated by the BJP to the Council in June 2008 and his term was due to expire in June 2014. Khan was handpicked by B S Yeddyurappa. Speaking to reporters after joining the Congress, he said he made up his mind to quit the saffron party the day it started projecting Modi as its prime ministerial candidate.
“Modi has refused to even express regret for the 2002 Gujarat riots. We cannot have him as the prime minister. Muslims should unite and prevent him from becoming the prime minister,” he stated.
Earlier in the day, Khan submitted his resignation as MLC to the Legislative Council chairman D H Shankaramurthy. The resignation was later accepted. He was Wakfs minister in the Yeddyurappa cabinet. Khan later joined Yeddyurappa’s KJP.
Fake letter
He alleged that though he was nominated to the Council, the BJP had subsequently submitted a fake document (form 3) to the Governor on his behalf, stating that he belongs to the BJP.
“I learnt about the fake document after many days. I obtained the document from Raj Bhavan under the Right to Information Act. The party did not take any action despite a complaint by me in this regard,” he said.
BJP hits back
Criticising the statements made by Khan, BJP State general secretary Raghunath Rao Malkapure said Khan was no more than a party-hopper.
“He has decided to join the party whenever it suited him. He enjoyed power over the past five years. If he had not been associated with the BJP, he would not have enjoyed power. Khan has found an excuse to be with the ruling party,” said Malkapure.
The BJP leader said Khan’s allegations of fake document and forgery were invalid as he had almost four years to cross check. “Why did it take so long for him to find out that his signature was forged?” said Malkapure.
‘Lad will continue’
KPCC chief G Parameshwara has reiterated that Infrastructure Development Minister Santosh Lad will not be dropped from the council of ministers in the wake of allegations of his involvement in illegal mining.
He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and himself had gone through all documents pertaining to illegal mining. There is no involvement of Lad in any illegal mining case, he claimed.
Asked about Siddaramaiah disapproving the State party’s move to conduct quarterly assessment of his ministers’ performance, he said it will be done as per the direction of the high command.