‘Expel six ministers till probe is completed’

JD(S) MLA Sa Ra Mahesh criticised the six BJP ministers of the state for moving court to seek an injunction against media from publishing anything defamatory about them. The MLA demanded Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to expel them.

Speaking to reporters here, on Saturday, Mahesh said, “Applying for an injunction order is a shame on the people’s representatives. All six ministers, who were among the 17 MLAs who joined the BJP from the Congress and the JD(S), should be expelled from the cabinet, until the truth is probed.”

Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar, Agriculture Minister B C Patil, Cooperation Minister S T Somashekar, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Dr K Sudhakar, Minister for Municipal Administration Narayan Gowda and Urban Development Minister Byrati Basavaraj have moved the court, seeking an injunction against publishing anything defamatory about them.

Mahesh asked, “Why have the ministers moved court, if they are righteous? There is a conspiracy behind it and the blackmailers behind the videos must be traced. Is there a conspiracy to blackmail the 17 MLAs, who joined the BJP, by trouncing the previous JD(S)-Congress coalition government?”.

When asked whether Tourism Minister C P Yogeeshwara, who accompanied the 17 MLAs during their stay in Mumbai, is behind the incident, Mahesh said, “Our friend (referring to BJP MLC A H Vishwanath, without mentioning his name) had earlier referred to a CD. But, we did not believe him. He might mention these matters in his book ‘Bombay Days’.”

When Yogeeshwara was inducted into Yediyurappa’s Cabinet in January, Vishwanath had alleged that Yogeeshwara managed to get ministership, by blackmailing under the guise of a CD.

Demanding an investigation into the CD case, Mahesh said, “The people around us and family members are suspecting us. Thus, there must be a thorough investigation in this regard.”