HUBBALLI: By pulling out of the implementation of Steel Bridge Project, the State government has conceded that there was something unusual behind sanctioning the project, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, said here on Friday. Demanding the State government to initiate a CBI probe, he said that BJP leaders would urge Centre to order a probe, if the State did not do the same.
Stating that his allegation on kickbacks to members of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's family in Steel Bridge Project stood vindicated, Yeddyurappa told reporters that a thorough investigation was required to learn the actual reasons behind pulling out of the project and also on the contents of the controversial Govindaraju diary. The diary which was seized by the Income Tax Department allegedly contains details of Congress leaders making payments to party high command.
"If Siddaramaih is honest enough, he should order a CBI probe on corruption allegations behind the steel bridge project and let him come clean", he challenged. "Otherwise the party would impress upon the Union government to direct CBI to take over the case," he said. He, however, stated that diary found in Sahara-Birla case was quite different than the one found at Congress MLC Govindraj's residence.
Alleging that entire State Government was involved in the corruption, he said that he had collected documents related to over Rs 3,000 crore corruption at Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palik and was closely studying them. They would be made public before commencement of legislative sessions, he said.
The party members would stage protest at district headquarters across the State on March 9, condemning laxity of the government in tackling drought situation in the State.