Ananth Kumar-Radia link charges are Congress conspiracy: Yeddyurappa

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today dismissed as "Congress conspiracy" reports of the links of BJP MP H N Ananth Kumar to corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday dismissed as "Congress conspiracy" reports of the links of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP H N Ananth Kumar to corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

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"Attempts to insult Ananth Kumar will boomerang," the chief minister told reporters here reacting to reports claiming that Ananth Kumar, who was civil aviation minister during the NDA rule, had helped Radia, who is under the scanner for her role in the 2G spectrum allocation scandal.

"It is a systematic conspiracy by Congress to create confusion by dragging all irrelevant names," said Yeddyurappa.

Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar, Bangalore South MP, are considered to be rivals seeking the dominant role in Karnataka's BJP affairs.

Yeddyurappa said: "Congress (which heads the UPA government in New Delhi) could not conduct parliament session. They want to create confusion. This is a baseless allegation (against Ananth Kumar). Truth will come out."

Ananth Kumar was civil aviation minister during the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government in 1998-1999. In the second NDA government between 1999-2004, he was handling different portfolios like tourism and urban development.