Siddaramaiah sought to turn the tables on BJP, saying several Union ministers were facing FIRs and criminal cases but "why have they not resigned?"

Under attack from opposition BJP over the alleged suicide of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today hit back at the rival party, rejecting its demand for a probe into the case that led to the exit of KJ George as a minister, and questioning continuance of central ministers facing FIRs.

In a counter-offensive against the Opposition a day after George quit “voluntarily”, Siddaramaiah sought to turn the tables on BJP, saying several Union ministers were facing FIRs and criminal cases but “why have they not resigned?”

He said Union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya, Smriti Irani and Uma Bhartiwere facing FIRs and seven of the newly inducted 19 Union ministers had criminal cases registered against them “but BJP was silent on this and singling out George”, who resigned hours after a court ordered registration of FIR against him and two police officials over the DySP suicide.

He said that mere filing of an FIR does not warrant action but still George stepped down as a “loyal soldier” of the party, saying he did not want to embarass Congress, the Chief Minister and the government.