Karnataka DySp suicide: KJ George quits, but the fire rages on

BENGALURU: Bringing the curtains down on an embarrassing episode which left Congress top guns red-faced, Bengaluru development minister and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s trusted lieutenant, K.J. George resigned on Monday, hours after a local court in Madikeri ordered the police to register an FIR against him in the case pertaining to deputy superintendent of police M.K. Ganapati’s suicide.

Mr George, amongst the senior most original Congress leaders in Mr Siddaramaiah’s government, was accused of harassment by Mr Ganapati in an interview to a television channel hours before the officer ended his life in a hotel in Madikeri on July 7.  His resignation was the culmination of series of protests by Opposition parties in the state legislature and outside, and caustic remarks within the cabinet by senior ministers who quizzed Mr Siddaramaiah as to why he was resorting to double standards by rising to the defence of Mr George while he did not think twice before axing some ministers during last month’s reshuffle. Evidently, central leaders of the party advised the Chief Minister to accept Mr George’s resignation immediately after the court order this afternoon to thwart any attempt by MPs of BJP and constituents of NDA to embarrass the Congress in parliament on Tuesday and blunt their victory in the North-East.

Soon after handing in his resignation letter to the Chief Minister, Mr George told the media: “In 45 years of public life, I have never harassed anyone. I am here to serve the people. My conscience is clear. I will come out clean. Since court has issued an order, I decided to hand over the resignation to CM. But I am keeping all legal options open. You wait and watch for further legal action.”

On his part, Mr Siddaramaiah who chaired an emergency meeting of the cabinet, told the media, “Mr George has voluntarily submitted his resignation. Though he was not involved in any crime, he resigned on moral grounds. I have accepted his resignation.”

Earlier, the Chief Minister discussed the repercussions of the court order with senior ministers. Barring higher education minister, Basavaraj Rayareddy all the ministers felt Mr George should step down pending completion of the investigation.

Mr Siddaramaiah did not disclose his decision but called a leader in New Delhi and briefed him about the developments of the day. He continued to defend Mr George in the Legislative Council, saying he would take a call only after reading a copy of the court order.

The word for Mr George’s exit, however, came from Delhi soon after senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad briefed party president Sonia Gandhi on the implications of the court order and likely protests by MPs from the  Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi on Tuesday. Mr Siddaramaiah had little choice but to accept Mr George’s resignation but joined his cabinet colleagues in assuring the outgoing minister: “We are confident that you will return taintless. You have done no wrong. We are all with you. You will come back.”

How the axe fell
3 PM: JMFC court in Madikeri directs jurisdictional police to register an FIR against Mr George and two police officers, A.M. Prasad and Pronab Mohanty
3.30 PM:  Mr Siddaramaiah convenes a meeting of senior ministers in his chamber near the Legislative Assembly
5 PM: CM takes a break to participate in the legislature session, and makes a statement that he would take a call only after getting a copy of the court order
6 PM:  The inclusive meeting of senior ministers resumes on the third floor. A message arrives from central leaders that Mr George should resign. The meeting, however, lasts more than an hour
8 PM: Mr George addresses the media to announce his resignation