Bengaluru: Minister for Energy D K Shivakumar on Monday said there were no irregularities in distribution of solar power units, purchase of coal and production of solar power.
Speaking with media persons, Energy Minister Shivakumar said BJP leaders have made baseless allegations against him. “I am ready for a public debate on these issues. I want BJP leaders to be ready for the same on their allegations against me. No irregularities have taken place in purchasing coal, allocating of solar units or in the production of solar power in the state. BJP leaders are making baseless allegations against me,’’ Minister Shivakumar said.
The minister said BJP spokesperson S Suresh Kumar and BJP leader C T Ravi made allegations against him without any evidence or documents. “If they have any evidence against me, let them produce such documents or evidence against me. I am ready for a public debate at any platform on this issue. I want the BJP leaders to accept my challenge and participate in the public debate,’’ the minister said.
He has also refuted the allegations of facilitating brothers of Lakshmi Hebbalkar to produce 300 MW solar power and purchasing coal illegally from the mines owned by Congress leader. “The ministry of energy has made arrangements for solar power units to submit applications online. This is the most transparent system. There is no chance for any irregularities or mistakes. Despite all these measures, BJP leaders are making allegations against me,’’ he said.
Reacting to the allegation of Congress leader owning coal mines in Indonesia and the energy ministry has purchased coal from him, the minister has asked BJP leaders to produce documents to prove their allegation. “If they prove that any of my friends (Congress leaders) owning a coal mine in Indonesia, I am ready to give such coal mine to BJP leaders as a gift. Let BJP leaders fix the date and the time to accept such coal mines as a gift,’’ he said.
Karnataka Power Corporation Limited purchases coal from MSTC Limited and anyone inspect it, the minister said. “Some vested interests have been making allegations against me. These leaders are envy of my political growth. They want to send me to prison. They have been making all efforts to finish me politically but I am ready to face their challenge,’’ he said.
It may be recalled that BJP leaders charged state Congress women wing’s president Laxmi Hebbalkar with owning a coal mine in Indonesia from where the Karnataka Power Corporation was buying coal for its thermal power projects. This comes after the party alleged that she got Rs 215 crore from seven cooperative banks against a total security of 51 acres of industrial land in Belagavi.
BJP MLAs S Suresh Kumar and C T Ravi said their party will write to Union home minister for an enforcement directorate (ED) inquiry into how Hebbalkar could invest in a Rs 5,000 crore company, considering she declared her annual income as Rs 5 lakh. “We suspect it’s a benami transaction of a powerful minister in the government. We are also getting documents regarding the Indonesian mining company, where names of other people will emerge,’’ the leaders added.
