Being targeted because I’m a Dalit: Thimmapur

Excise Minister RB Thimmapur, who announced on Friday that he would resign from his post if evidence is presented on corruption charges, said he was being targeted with politically motivated and defamatory allegations because he is a Dalit.

During the debate in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister said, “(The opposition) is conspiring to humiliate me. If evidence is presented, I will resign from my post right now.”

Stating that except CL 4 and CL 7 licences, no other license was being issued, he said, “The BJP government issued 1,404 licenses during COVID-19. How much was collected then? The Opposition is pressing its attack on the lawsuit made by (Wine Merchants Association president) Guruswamy. He should reveal how much bribe has been given and to whom.” He also touched upon the KDA meeting in which an official accused former Tax Minister Gopalaiah of collecting bribes.

Earlier, BJP members, who had raised multiple corruption charges, had demanded his resignation.

Flashing his blue pen, the Minister said, “There is evidence of corruption in others. I can name their names.” BJP members interrupted him and asked him to reveal the names, but the Minister refused to do so.

Elaborating on the reforms he has introduced in his department, Mr. Thimmapur said that annual license renewal is now done every five years and the renewal must be done within 48 hours. He also said that compared to the previous 16-level approval process, the number has now reduced to seven. In order to ensure transparency, e-auction was implemented with reservations.

However, Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanswamy said there was sufficient digital evidence and the Lokayukta had trapped an Excise Department official. “There is a monthly card for accepting bribes that varies from city to city.”

A high-decibel heated verbal duel soon broke out between Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge and BJP member N. Ravikumar after the latter intervened while he was speaking.

While BJP members were wading into the well demanding Mr. Thimmapur’s resignation, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil intervened and said that since the Lokayukta complainant’s license application was for an unauthorized facility in a residential area, it was not appropriate to consider it as evidence.