Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called for the resignation of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman following a Bengaluru court’s order to file an FIR against her and other leaders for allegedly extorting money through the now-defunct electoral bonds scheme.
At a press conference on Friday, Siddaramaiah criticized the Karnataka BJP, questioning when they would demand Sitharaman’s resignation and protest against her involvement in the alleged “scam.” He also suggested that if a fair investigation takes place, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also resign, along with Union Minister and BJP leader HD Kumaraswamy.
“After the Mysore district progress review meeting yesterday, the Court of People’s Representatives directed that an FIR be filed against Nirmala Sitharaman in connection with the electoral bond scam. When will the Karnataka BJP leaders protest and demand her resignation? If there is a genuine investigation, Prime Minister Modi will also need to resign. Kumaraswamy, who is currently on bail, should resign as well,” he stated in a post on X.
In response, Kumaraswamy questioned Siddaramaiah’s calls for their resignations, asking whether the electoral bond money ended up in Sitharaman’s “personal account.” “The CM is asking for my and Nirmala Sitharaman’s resignation? Yes, the court has ordered an FIR, but did that electoral bond money go to her personal account? Why should either of us resign?” the former Karnataka Chief Minister said.
Earlier on Friday, a Bengaluru court ordered the filing of an FIR against Nirmala Sitharaman and others for allegedly extorting money through electoral bonds. This ruling followed a petition from Adarsh Iyer of the Janadhikar Sangharsh Parishad (JSP) to the Special Court of People’s Representatives, seeking action against the Union Minister. Following the hearing, the court instructed the Tilak Nagar police station in Bengaluru to register an FIR for the alleged extortion related to electoral bonds.