JDS leader, H D Kumaraswamy ends fast

Mtoday/ PTI

Bangalore, July 10 : JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy today ended his two-day-old indefinite fast to demand a CBI probe into ruling BJP’s allegation that he and his family had amassed illegal wealth of Rs 1,500 crore, saying he was doing so bowing to the directives of his party and its workers.

 

Kumaraswamy was offered a glass of fruit juice by Jnanapeetha Awardee U R Ananthamurthy at Freedom Park after he urged him to withdrew the fast, which the JDS leader accepted and ended his stir.

"Personally I am in favour of continuing with the fast. But my party leaders, partymen and leading personalities have been mounting pressure on me to give up the fast. I am obliging all of them and respecting their sentiments."

Kumaraswamy criticised the ’callous manner’ in which allegations were hurled against family members of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, including himself, by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and BJP.

Earlier, a three-member ministers team comprising Home Minister R Ashoka, Labour Minister B N Bacchegowda and Housing Minister V Somanna called on Kumaraswamy and handed over a letter to him from Yeddyurappa, requesting him to call off the fast.

Yeddyurappa invited Kumarawamy for parleys on the issues raised by him and ruled out seeking a CBI probe.

A team of doctors from Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, who conducted a medical check up on Kumaraswamy cautioned him against continuing the fast as his blood pressure and sugar levels fluctuated.

In view of the medical report, Devegowda convened an emergent meeting of senior party leaders at which it decided to direct Kumaraswamy to call off the fast.

Deve Gowda announced at a press conference that the party had directed Kumaraswamy to withdraw the fast.

Senior JDS leader, M C Nanaiah communicated the party’s decision to Kumaraswamy and insisted that he abide by it.

Addressing the gathering, Anantha Murthy urged Kumaraswamy to end the fast and JDS supporters too voiced similar sentiments.

Kumaraswamy had launched the fast yesterday demanding that the state government seek a CBI probe into the allegations BJP released in its 53-page chargsheet two weeks ago.

Yeddyurappa in his letter had assured that the word ’chargesheet’ would be dropped and the document would be labelled as ’booklet.