Mysuru: Reacting to the Income Tax department’s raids on his ministers and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy claimed leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party had got the raids done to help the Independent candidate in Mandya, Sumalatha Ambareesh whom they are backing. Sumalatha is fighting Janata Dal (Secular) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of the CM in Mandya in a high stakes battle.
The Chief Minister while speaking to media persons in Mysuru, said, “One person from the state gave a list to Amit Shah (BJP national president). That list was passed on to the IT chief here, Mr Balakrishnan and he got the raids done. Is he an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party? He will retire in the next 12 months and they might have wooed him promising to make him governor of a state. Income Tax officials must work impartially and not favour anyone.Mr Balakrishnan must be transferred immediately and an officer who works impartially must be appointed in his place," he demanded.
He said, “No matter how many I-T raids happen, the victory of my son Nikhil is certain. Whenever there are raids, they use the local police but this time, they have used central forces for security and I wonder why?” He added, “Everyone knows how much money Mr Yeddyurappa has made. A close aide of Mr H.D. Deve Gowda (Janata Dal Secular supremo), Paramesh owns a small shop in Shivamogga and even he has not been spared by the IT sleuths.”
