Karnataka BJP mounts pressure on Cong over charges against Venugopal

Bengaluru, Nov 11: The allegations of sexual exploitation levelled against K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, provided fresh fuel for the BJP who traded charges with the Congress over the issue.

While the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar demanded that the AICC should immediately withdraw the services of Mr. Venugopal from Karnataka as the party’s in-charge, the Karnataka Pradesh Congres Committee (KPCC) President G. Parameshwara defended Mr. Venugopal and said the allegations were politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing his image.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Shettar slammed the Congress pointing out that Mr. Venugopal’s name figured in the Justice G. Shivarajan Commission report that was tabled in the Kerala Assembly on Thursday.

“There are also allegations of rape against him. He has no right to speak about others and should own responsibility and go back from Karnataka. Otherwise, the BJP will launch an agitation,” Mr. Shettar said.

In a separate press conference, Mr. Parameshwara said the allegations were baseless and politically motivated. “The CPM-led LDF government in Kerala, backed by the ruling BJP at the Centre, have been making allegations since 2013 but have not been able to establish any wrongdoing or corruption. The Judicial Inquiry Commission, instituted to probe into the allegations, has not come out with any findings or substantiated any allegations,” he said.

“Mr. Venugopal has already denied all the allegations and has even filed a defamation case against Sarita Nair (who made the allegations) and certain sections of the media at CJM court, Ernakulam. Let us wait for the court to decide. The Congress will face all allegations and prove them as nothing but politically motivated,” he said.

Pointing out that the party’s image had been built up after Mr. Venugopal was entrusted with the responsibility of managing the party’s affairs in Karnataka, Mr. Parameshwara said the BJP is indulging in “cheap politics” as it is unable to digest his popularity in the State.