Congress links another BJP minister to iron ore export scam

BENGALURU: After Nitin Gadkari, another BJP minister in the Modi government is being accused of corruption. Karnataka Congress on Tuesday released documents in Davanagere that shows GS Gayithri, wife of Union MoS for Heavy Industries, Gowdara Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara, as a director and shareholder in a company accused of illegally exporting iron ore in 2009 and 2010.

“We have released the minister’s own affidavit filed during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It shows that his wife, Gayithri, holds 9,649 shares worth Rs 9.64 crore in GEM Laboratories, which is accused of illegal export of iron ore,” Congress’ district unit spokesperson D Basavaraj told ET.

The Congress has demanded that Siddeshwara step down from his post till investigation is complete. “He is powerful and we fear that evidences will be destroyed. We have also sent the documents to our national leaders to take up the issue in Parliament,” Basavaraj said.

Siddeshwara told ET that the issue was sub judice and that he was waiting for the verdict.