Vijayendra rejects bribery charge in Waqf case

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on Sunday strongly dismissed chief minister Siddaramaiah and ruling Congress leaders' charges that he attempted to bribe former state Minority Commission Chairperson Anwar Manippady to hush up his report on the Waqf encroachments.

- Press Trust of India

BENGALURU:

Chief minister Siddaramaiah in a statement on Saturday said that Manippady had publicly stated that Vijayendra visited his house during Yediyurappa's tenure as CM and offered ₹150 crore to be silent about the Waqf property encroachment report.

Meanwhile, Manippady has denied that no such offer was made to him by Vijayendra while home minister G Parameshwara stated that there was video footage showing Manippady making such charge.

Questioning whether there was any logic in the allegation, Vijayendra said, the Congress and Siddaramaiah seem to be "perturbed" by the allegations of corruption and scam against them, especially by the MUDA site allotment case against the CM.

"This is a shameless government, its leaders, ministers, and legislators, I have seen their statements, they seem to have lost their mind. When BS Yediyurappa was CM and BJP government was in power Anwar Manippady had submitted a report on Waqf regarding irregularities committed during the previous Congress government and its leaders," Vijayendra said.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "As the then chief minister's son, why should I go to Anwar Manippady's house and offer ₹150 crore? That too to save Congress leaders? Is there any logic in this (allegation)?"