Bachegowda denies assault charge, not to apologise

M.today

Bangalore, Aug 18 : Karnataka Labour Minister B N Bachegowda, who has been in the eye of public storm after his involvement in a road rage incident, on Wednesday said he would ensure that the culprit was brought to book.

 

"I have done no wrong. I am innocent. There is no need to oblige opposition parties who have demanded my resignation on flimsy grounds," Gowda said at a press conference which he addressed at the behest of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who had suggested him to end the row.

Bachegowda also denied that neither he nor his personal staff assaulted the real estate businessman, who tried to overtake his car near Nelamangala, while the minister was returning to the city from Hassan on August 15.

He also termed the reports that appeared in a section of the press to this effect as "malicious, politically motivated and intended to tarnish his image". "He (the industrialist) was arrogant... I will dig into his past and bring out all the facts of cheating his family has been involved. This is only a beginning," an emotionally charged Bachegowda claimed.

Police have already registered an FIR against the industrialist for rash and negligent driving. "I never held a view that none should overtake my car. But the driver of the car spoke in an arrogant manner to me when I asked him why he was driving in a rash and negligent manner. When police arrived on the scene, I asked them to subject the industrialist to medical test to ascertain whether he was under influence of alcohol," the minister said.

Bachegowda said he met Yeddyurappa today and briefed him about the incident. The chief minister asked him to end the matter by tendering regrets, he said. "I express regrets for that day’s incident. But there is no need for tendering any apology. Yeddyurappa should have spoken to me before offering apology on my behalf. May be to bail out his ministerial colleague, the chief minister has apologised," Bachegowda said.

When attention was drawn to his acts of flip-flop as he was expressing regrets and also vowing to continue legal battle over the incident, the minister said "I have said whatever I want to say."

In the face of Opposition outcry over the incident and their demand for Bachegowda’s resignation, Yeddyurappa on August 16 had tendered an apology over the incident.