Jammu/New Delhi, Sept 5: Seeking to put the BJP on the backfoot, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today demanded an inquiry into alleged “business ties” of Sushma Swaraj and M Venkaiah Naidu with Reddy brothers of Karnataka but the Leader of Opposition said she was ready for any probe.
“We have been saying from the beginning. Sushma Swaraj has business relations with them (Reddys). Venkaiah Naidu has business relations with them. This is what we said from the beginning,” Singh told reporters here on a day former Karnataka minister Janardhana Reddy was arrested by the CBI in connection with the mining scam.
“They (Reddys) were virtually running an unchallenged empire there. What happened today, should have happened three years ago,” the Congress general secretary said.
He was replying to questions about the arrest of Reddy and his brother-in-law and Managing Director of Obalapuram Mining Company B V Srinivas Reddy under Prevention of Corruption Act by the CBI after searches at their premises allegedly led to seizure of over 30 kg of gold and more than Rs 4.5 crore in cash.
In Delhi, Swaraj struck a combative tone asking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to appoint Digvijay to investigate the matter.
Denying any relations with the mining barons either in the past or at present, Swaraj said, “I welcome this statement of Digvijay Singh and I want that this probe should definitely be done so that the truth comes out as only when the truth comes out will I get justice.”
She sought to throw Prime Minister Singh's recent statement in the Lok Sabha- where he had said Leader of Opposition can hold any inquiry against him and find out for herself if he had indulged in any corrupt practices- back at the government and the Congress, saying he could order a similar probe against her. PTI
