Kumaraswamy ends 'indefinite' fast for CBI probe

Janata Dal - Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday ended his two-day-old 'indefinite' fast to demand a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's allegation that he and his family had amassed illegal wealth worth Rs 1,500 crore.

Kumaraswamy was offered a glass of fruit juice by Jnanapeetha Awardee U R Ananthamurthy at Freedom Park after the latter urged him to withdrew the fast, which the JD-S leader accepted.

"Personally, I am in favour of continuing with the fast. But my party leaders, party men and leading personalities have been mounting pressure on me to give up the fast. I am obliging all of them and respecting their sentiments," he said.

Kumaraswamy criticised the 'callous manner' in which allegations were hurled against family members of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and the BJP.

Earlier, a team of minister comprising Home Minister R Ashoka, Labour Minister B N Bacchegowda and Housing Minister V Somanna called on Kumaraswamy and handed over a letter to him from Yeddyurappa, requesting him to call off the fast.

Yeddyurappa invited Kumarawamy for parleys on the issues raised by him but ruled out a CBI probe.

A team of doctors from the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, who conducted a medical check-up on Kumaraswamy, cautioned him against continuing the fast as his blood pressure and sugar levels had fluctuated.

In view of the medical report, Devegowda convened an emergency meeting of senior party leaders, at which it decided to direct Kumaraswamy to call off the fast.

Deve Gowda announced at a press conference that the party had directed Kumaraswamy to withdraw the fast. Senior JD-S leader M C Nanaiah communicated the party's decision to Kumaraswamy and insisted that he abide by it.

Addressing the gathering, Anantha Murthy urged Kumaraswamy to end the fast.

Kumaraswamy had launched the fast on Saturday, demanding that the state government seek a CBI probe into the allegations BJP released in its 53-page 'chargsheet' two weeks ago.

Yeddyurappa had assured Kumaraswamy that the word 'chargesheet' would be dropped and the document would be labelled as 'booklet'.