Congress slams Reddy brothers for continuing as ministers
By IANSMonday, May 3, 2010
NEW DELHI - The Congress Monday slammed Reddy brothers, the mining barons who are ministers in Karnataka, and a few of their colleagues for continuing in the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government while facing charges of assault, cheating, fraud and corruption.
“How many of these ministers have offered to resign?” asked Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi here.
The Congress statement came a day after Haratalu Halappa resigned as the state’s food and civil supplies minister following a newspaper report that he sexually assaulted his friend’s wife in his home district of Shimoga. A criminal case was filed Monday by the victim.
“Two ministers from the Reddy family face serious allegations,” Singhvi told reporters.
He added that Social Welfare Minister D. Sudhakar and Excise Minister Renukacharia face serious charges of bank fraud and harassing a woman, respectively.
“This party (BJP) has always treated criminal charges lightly,” Singhvi said, referring to senior BJP leader L.K. Advani’s tenure as deputy prime minister of the country while facing criminal charges under the Babri Masjid demolition case.
“It (BJP) has always tried to preach…not practice. They have to explain to whom they are accountable,” Singhvi added.
