Expressing outrage over alleged corruption in the Housing Department in Karnataka, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy ridiculed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by remarking whether he had the courage and the integrity to seek the resignation of Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Mr. Kumaraswamy said: “There are multiple layers of scams within the department. Will the Chief Minister demand the Housing Minister’s resignation? Does this CM have the courage, integrity, or moral authority to do so?”

He said the condition of MLAs in the State was like that of the famous character Tabara, while recalling the famous Kannada short story Tabarana Kathe by K.P. Poornachandra Tejaswi, which was made into a film by Girish Kasaravalli in which a watchman runs from pillar to post to claim his pension.

“Unfortunately, today’s MLAs are in the same situation, running to Ministers and engineers’ offices for schemes and funds. Never before has the State seen such a sorry state of governance,” he said.

“MLAs are wandering like the character Tabara, going around offices and Ministers for grants and government schemes. If even ruling party members are facing such problems, what would be the plight of opposition MLAs?”