Hubballi: Challenging the Kumaraswamy government to go ahead with the cabinet expansion, senior BJP leader, R Ashok on Friday claimed that both the coalition partners were afraid it would set off a revolt and bring down the government.
"The expansion is being delayed to save the government," he contended, speaking to reporters here. While admitting that that the BJP would welcome MLAs from other parties if they shared its principles, he claimed the party was not actively trying to destablise the government and it would fall anytime owing to its own internal squabbling.
On the Congress party's demand for a probe into the Rafale deal by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPS) , he maintained it was just a face saver as the Supreme Court's verdict had exposed its "lies and propaganda" against the Modi government. Ridiculing the Congress party's defence on the setback it had received in the apex court , he said the highest judicial body of the country has already cleared all doubts raised by the public interest litigation on the deal.
Reacting to the claim of Congress leaders that the Supreme Court was not competent to investigate the issues raised by them, the BJP leader argued that if the bench headed by Chief Justice of India has found fault with any measures taken by the government in sealing the Rafale deal, it would have asked for an inquiry.
"Congress president Rahul Gandhi has no evidence to prove the charges he has made. He is just trying to keep the issue alive to gain political mileage with the parliamentary elections nearing," he said.
Meanwhile, BJP senior leader and Udupi- Chikamagaluru MP, Shobha Karandlaje said that the Supreme Court verdict has vindicated the BJP stand on purchase of Rafale jets for the IAF. She said Congress president Rahul Gandhi was trying to misled the public and should tender an apology for this.
