Cash gifts to journalists: Karnataka CM Bommai denies allegations, blames Congress toolkit

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Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Sunday denied allegations that his office had attempted to bribe reporters by sending them a cash gift of Rs 1 lakh during the Diwali festival.

Speaking to mediapersons, Bommai said he had not instructed anyone to offer cash as gifts to reporters of various media organizations. “This is a result of the Congress toolkit. They are attempting to manufacture lies,” he said, responding to questions on a series of tweets by the Opposition Congress about the issue.

It is clear that during the Congress tenure they had handed out various gifts to several people, the chief minister alleged, citing that gold coins, iPhones and laptops were handed out as gifts. “They don’t have any moral authority to speak about the issue,” Bommai said.

On a complaint filed with the Lokayukta in the wake of the allegation, the BJP leader said the matter will be investigated. “It is not right to infer that all journalists took these gifts. Let the investigation be completed,” he said.

The Bommai administration has been under fire from Opposition parties in the state after it emerged that wads of cash were allegedly kept inside sweet boxes distributed from the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) on the occasion of Diwali. The Congress has sought a probe as well as Bommais resignation in the wake of the allegations.

To questions on the death of police inspector KH Nandish, Bommai said directions will be issued to the police to collect all information and conduct a probe into the incident. “We won’t hesitate to conduct a thorough probe,” he said. Following the inspectors death on October 27, a video had gone viral in which state small-scale industries minister MTB Nagaraj was heard alluding to bribes paid by the official for the posting.

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