BJP trying to topple govt, says HDK; BSY hits back

A war of words ensued between Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday following a charge by the former that the saffron party was trying to topple the coalition government by using central agencies.

Kumaraswamy charged that officers had been posted in the Income Tax (I-T) department and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to target leaders of the ruling coalition. He even charged that Yeddyurappa son’s B Y Vijendra had met a top I-T official recently.

Reacting sharply to the charge on Wednesday, Yeddyurappa said Kumaraswamy was making irresponsible statements. “It is unbecoming of the chief minister to make such baseless charges. Why should we topple the government? We have nothing to do with it,” Yeddyurappa said.

Vijendra denied that he had met any I-T official. “He (Kumaraswamy) has made a childish statement. It reflects his state of mind,” Vijendra said.

However, Kumaraswamy stuck to his charge. “I have the information and hence, I made the statement”. When reporters asked whether he had proof, Kumaraswamy said, “Should I go with a camera to capture the dealings of Yeddyurappa?”

Joint Commissioner of Income Tax (Administration) Tamil Selvam clarified that the family members of none of the politicians had met the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax and Director General of Income-Tax (Investigation), Karnataka and Goa and termed the charge as baseless.