Karnataka: Congress ups ante, Lehar diary out

Bengaluru: With both BJP and Congress parties accusing each other of making 'pay-offs' to their respective party central leaders, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee upped the ante against the BJP leaders on Saturday, strongly demanding an impartial Supreme Court monitored probe into alleged "pay-offs" mentioned in Sahara-Birla diary, BJP state joint treasure  Leher Singh's diary and Congress MLC, K. Govindraju's diary.

Speaking to reporters here, KPCC working president, Dinesh Gundurao asserted "Supreme Court needs to order an inquiry by a  sitting judge into all these notes which have been doing rounds in media circles. At least, let the truth come out, who paid to whom, irrespective of the Supreme Court's judgement on Sahara-Birla diary notes. These notes have names, initials. Let the truth come out, what kind of notes are these or diaries which the BJP and Congress is referring to," the KPCC working president contended.

He dared the BJP to constitute a Supreme Court monitored probe instead of only harping on alleged notes in Mr Govindraju's diary. “Congress is ready for this probe despite knowing the facts that all investigation agencies are under the control of Union Government. But is the BJP ready for such a probe?” he said.

Meanwhile, flashing BJP MLC’s 2013 dated letter to then BJP president Rajnath Singh and L.K. Advani, Congress leader V. S. Ugrappa said Mr Lehar Singh had written to Mr  Rajanath Singh accusing Mr Advani of maintaining a studied silence over corruption practices involved within the party.

“What about this letter, which is in itself incriminating evidence about the rot that exists within the BJP.  Mr Yeddyruappa and Mr Singh must know that those who live in glasshouses should not throw stones at others,” Mr Ugrappa, MLC, shot back.