Bengaluru: On Tuesday, Karnataka politics was rocked by discontent after a contractor took his own life and blamed Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj K Eshwarappa for the severe action he took in his suicide note. While the opposition party’s leaders demanded action against the cabinet minister, workers from the grand old party organized a protest outside KS Eshwarappa’s Bengaluru residence, demanding his resignation.
The Congress workers organized a demonstration with slogans and clashed with the police officers stationed at the minister’s residence.
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However, Eshwarappa has refuted the allegations made by the deceased contractor saying, “He should have fought it in the court, I’m nowhere related to Santosh Patil’s suicide.” He also said that he had lodged a defamation case against the person.
“I’ve not met him, there is no question of my resignation,” the minister said.
“I had lodged a defamation case against the person who accused me of (corruption)…He should have fought it in the court, I’m nowhere related to his (contractor Santosh Patil’s) suicide. I’ve not met him, there is no question of my resignation,” KS Eshwarappa was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Santhosh K Patil, a BJP worker, sent a suicide note to journalists over WhatsApp, alleging that Minister Eshwarappa was directly responsible for his death and that he should be punished.
“I have made this decision after relegating all my dreams to the corner. My wife and child should be supported by the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister as well as our Lingayat leader B.S. Yediyurappa. My million thanks to media friends,” his message read.
He also stated that friends had nothing to do with his death.
Santhosh Patil took his own life in an Udupi lodge by ingesting poison. Patil was a Belagavi district citizen from Badasa village. He had relocated to Belagavi and was employed as a contractor. His wife and one-and-a-half-year-old child survive him.
Meanwhile, Santhosh Patil’s brother Prashanth Patil has held the ruling BJP government responsible for the death of his brother. “The state government has killed my brother,” he alleged.
Patil had alleged that he was allotted Rs 4 crore work and even after completing it, funds were not released. He further stated that Eshwarappa’s aide has been asking for a 40 per cent cut. Patil had also given interviews to the national media accusing Eshwarappa of corruption.
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