Karnataka law and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar on Saturday resigned following a controversy over allotment of a housing site in the city on alleged violation of rules governing government land. Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, however, rejected Kumar’s resignation, stating he was aware of the issue and would consult officials concerned to ascertain the facts.
Kumar submitted his resignation to Gowda on moral grounds and wrote to Bangalore Development Authority, surrendering the site allotted to him under the chief minister's discretionary quota during the B S Yeddyurappa regime.
He faced charge that he was allotted a 4,000 square feet site in violation of rules though his kin, including his mother and daughter, owned a house and two sites.
“Suresh Kumar is one of those ministers who conduct themselves in a transparent manner. He has told me that he would take back the post only after his name was cleared but I think it is not necessary as I know the details of this case. The controversy did not even warrant his resignation and an investigation into the matter,” Gowda told reporters at his home-office after Kumar submitted the resignation letter.
I think he (Kumar) is being wrongly targetted. So I will not accept his resignation. There is also a no need to order a probe,” Gowda observed.
Reacting to a report in a English tabloid based on information obtained by an activist through the Right To Information (RTI) Act, Kumar said later that he had resigned because he did not want to cause embarrassment to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its government and the chief minister.
“Though I have explained to the chief minister the reason for resigning, I hope he would accept it as I had assured him to return to the post once my name is cleared,” Kumar told reporters at his house in the city’s north-west suburb.