Bangalore:
The BJP now seems to be feeling the heat over Radiagate. On Monday, the Congress in Karnataka sought the resignation of senior BJP leader H N Ananth Kumar from Lok Sabha "till he cleared his name of his alleged links with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia".
The party alleged that Kumar was not explaining his position despite reports of his alleged links with Radia during his tenure as Civil Aviation Minister. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman G C Chandrashekhar said, "As one who is from Karnataka and an MP from Bangalore, it's important that he gives information to the people of the State", he said.
Chandrashekhar alleged that when Ananth Kumar was the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Radia got a nod from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to start an airline with a share capital of Rs 1 lakh, while the norm at the time was that it should be Rs 30 crore.
"For her success in getting this nod, was there a hand of Ananth Kumar? Why is he not giving an open explanation to the people?", he asked.
Chandrashekhar also claimed that there were allegations that Ananth Kumar shared Cabinet decisions with Radia. "Is it not wrong?
"Till he is cleared of this issue, it's better he quits as member of Lok Sabha", he said.