Mysore/Mysuru: Even as the slugfest between Congress and BJP leaders continue over alleged scam in the purchase of  COVID-19 medical equipment by the BJP Government, KPCC Spokesperson M.Lakshmana said that the Congress will register a criminal case against the BJP for issuing a legal notice to Opposition leader Siddharamaiah and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar who have accused the Government of rampant corruption in COVID-19 medical purchases.

Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan here yesterday, Lakshmana said that Siddharamaiah is the Opposition Leader in the State Assembly and D.K.Shivakumar is an MLA and they have every right to expose the Government. But the BJP Government, instead of answering to the charges, has issued a legal notice to the two leaders, which amounts to disruption of discharge of their duties. As such, the Congress will lodge a criminal case against BJP General Secretary N. Ravikumar under Sections 186 and 353 of IPC, who has issued the legal notice to the two party leaders, Lakshmana said.

Maintaining that the BJP Government cannot scare the Congress by issuing a legal notice, he said that the Congress has charged the BJP Government of siphoning off 50 percent money in the purchase of COVID-19 medical equipment  totally worth Rs.4,500 crore by eight Departments. Claiming that the officials have not responded to the queries of the Congress regarding medical equipment purchase even after 20 days, Lakshmana accused the BJP Government of hiding information and providing only incomplete and ambiguous answers.

Inviting the BJP for an open debate on the alleged medical equipment purchase scam, Lakshmana said that the Congress will launch a campaign at the District and Taluk levels against the corrupt  practices of the BJP Government in the State.

Former Corporator Shivanna and others were at the press meet.