Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah terms I-T raids politically motivated; Happy MLAs to return Gujarat soon

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday termed the I-T raids on DK Shivakumar politically motivated and said this shows BJP’s mentality.

“If they have info about irregularities, they have the right. But they are doing with political intention, it is a political vendetta,” Siddaramaiah said.

“As per rule they can’t bring CRPF, it is purely a politically motivated move, shows the mentality of BJP,” Karnataka CM added.

IT department on Wednesday began its searches on various properties linked to Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar, who is hosting 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs at a resort to forestall alleged attempts by the BJP to poach on them ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.

During the searches at about 66 places across the country in connection with a case of alleged tax evasion, IT officials said they have seized cash and jewelry worth over Rs 15 crore so far.

However, D K Shivakumar said he has not violated the law and the truth will eventually come out.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress MLAs who were staying in Bengaluru on Saturday met Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala at Raj Bhavan. After the meeting, MLAs said the want to go back to their state as soon as possible, however, no date is fixed yet.

“We want to go back as soon as possible, nothing planned yet, a meeting scheduled for tomorrow,” Shaktisinh Gohil, Congress Gujarat MLA said.

The MLAs also went to Mahatma Gandhi statue in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru: #Gujarat Congress MLAs meet Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala at Raj Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/PS6yRBswIp

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 5, 2017

(With PTI inputs)