Bengaluru, Dec 30 (NationPress) The Karnataka BJP has insisted that the case concerning the suicide of a contractor, purportedly involving a close associate of Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge, be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). If the state government does not comply, the party plans to conduct a protest on January 4.

At a press conference on Monday at the party office in Bengaluru, BJP state President B.Y. Vijayendra cautioned that if the government neglects to forward the investigation to the CBI, a significant protest will be held in Kalaburagi on January 4.

“We will also encircle the residence of Priyank Kharge in Kalaburagi,” Vijayendra asserted.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, do not be afraid that if action is taken against Priyank Kharge, a call from New Delhi might jeopardize your position. Do not hesitate—take action against Priyank Kharge. You regard yourself as a champion for the Backward Classes. The contractor who ended his life belongs to the Backward Classes,” he remarked.

“The contractor, Sachin, mentioned in his suicide note that hired killers were responsible for targeting the Andola seer and BJP leaders from Solapur in Maharashtra,” Vijayendra claimed.

“This is a grave issue. The BJP will wait until January 3. May divine wisdom inspire Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to hand over the case to the CBI,” he urged.

“Since the Congress party assumed power, the rate of suicides has markedly increased. The state has never seen such a wave of deaths. The sisters of the deceased contractor approached the police for assistance, but the police disregarded them for 12 hours, subjecting them to humiliation instead,” Vijayendra alleged.

“Police negligence constitutes a crime, as their inaction could have spared the contractor’s life,” he added.

“The individual accused, Raju Kapanuru, who allegedly threatened the deceased, is a close associate of Priyank Kharge and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. The accused is not just any individual; he wields considerable influence. Given this context, the CBI should take over the case,” Vijayendra explained.

Vijayendra also presented photographs of Raju Kapanuru with Priyank Kharge, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

He further emphasized that the family of the deceased Sachin has requested that the case be transferred to the CBI.

“Previously, former BJP minister K.S. Eshwarappa resigned following a contractor's suicide. Minister for Power K.J. George also resigned after the suicide of Deputy SP Ganapathi during the previous Congress administration,” he pointed out.

The government should promptly demand the resignation of Minister Priyank Kharge and provide Rs 1 crore in compensation to the deceased contractor’s family, he insisted.

Sachin, a 26-year-old contractor, tragically took his own life last Thursday in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district due to alleged threats and extortion from an aide of Priyank Kharge. The deceased left behind a seven-page suicide note, stating that the abuses from Minister Kharge’s aide and former member of the Kalaburagi City Corporation, Raju Kapanuru, compelled him to make this tragic decision.

In response to the BJP's demands, Minister Priyank Kharge stated in Bengaluru on Monday that he would not resign, irrespective of the BJP's pressures.

“I do not deny that Raju Kapanuru is my aide. I have requested an inquiry by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Raju was previously associated with the BJP and served as the President of the BJP ST Morcha,” Minister Priyank asserted.

“If they possess any evidence, they should present it. Vijayendra is not the Supreme Court. There is an ongoing money laundering case against Vijayendra; why hasn’t he resigned?” Priyank questioned.

On the protest in Kalaburagi, Priyank ridiculed, “Let the BJP clarify how many individuals will gather in Kalaburagi for the protest against me. I will arrange for tea; otherwise, they will protest that I didn't even offer them water.”