Bengaluru: Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur on Tuesday firmly rejected Opposition demands for his resignation, asserting that he had committed no wrongdoing and would not step down based on what he described as baseless allegations made without evidence.
Responding to a discussion initiated under Rule 69 in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly by Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok, Thimmapur said he neither fears nor concerns himself with accusations aimed solely at damaging an individual’s reputation. “What mistake have I committed to resign? The question of resignation does not arise,” the Minister stated.
Hitting back at the BJP, Thimmapur referred to audio recordings related to alleged attempts at poaching legislators during the BJP’s tenure and questioned who had resigned at that time. He also claimed to possess documents related to scams that had surfaced during the BJP regime.
Addressing allegations of irregularities within the Excise Department, the Minister said strict action has already been taken against erring officials, including suspensions. On the bribery allegation levelled against him, Thimmapur said the individual who allegedly recorded the audio had applied for a CL-7 liquor licence, but the application itself was incomplete and lacked proper documentation. He alleged that the accusations were part of a blackmail attempt after the licence was not granted.
The Minister further clarified that he would not seek to shield himself by invoking his identity, stating that while he belongs to the Dalit community, he had not committed any wrongdoing. Providing comparative data, Thimmapur said 1,314 liquor licences were issued during the BJP’s tenure, while 1,195 licences have been granted during his term, underscoring that decisions were taken as per rules and procedure.
The issue continues to fuel political confrontation in the Assembly, with the Opposition maintaining pressure while the government stands by the Minister’s defence.
Also Read: Liquor Bribery Row Rocks Karnataka Assembly: BJP, JD(S) Launch Overnight Sit-In Demanding Minister’s Resignation
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ‘ನಾನು ಯಾವುದೇ ತಪ್ಪು ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲ’: ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ಬೇಡಿಕೆ ತಳ್ಳಿ ಹಾಕಿದ ಅಬಕಾರಿ ಸಚಿವ ಆರ್.ಬಿ. ತಿಮ್ಮಾಪುರ
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