Cong Suspends K’taka MLA Roshan Baig for ‘Anti-Party’ Activities

Roshan Baig, a MLA from Shivajinagar, had recently called AICC general secretary KC Venugopal a “buffoon.”

The Congress on Tuesday, 18 June, suspended rebel MLA R Roshan Baig from the party with immediate effect for "anti-party" activities.

Hitting out at Congress leaders for the party's performance in the Lok Sabha polls, Baig, a MLA from Shivajinagar, had recently held Siddaramaiah's "arrogance" and KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao's "immaturity" responsible for the "flop show."

He also called AICC general secretary KC Venugopal a “buffoon.”

Baig had also dropped hints of quitting the party, and appealed to Muslims to "compromise" with the situation, on NDA returning to power.

The Karnataka PCC had issued a show cause notice to him for his conduct, to which he has not responded, according to sources.

Earlier in the day, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao had said his alleged links with IMA jewels involved in an alleged financial fraud, duping thousands of investors, would be brought to the notice of central leadership for further action.

Revenue minister RV Deshpande had on Monday said that Baig had introduced the firm's owner Mohammed Mansoor Khan to him about two months ago but denied doing any undue favour.

Baig, a seven-time MLA and a former minister, has been expressing displeasure against the Congress party leadership on not being included in the coalition cabinet headed by HD Kumaraswamy.

‘Punished for Speaking the Truth'

Meanwhile, Baig attacked the state leadership saying that he was a "disciplined soldier of the party" and was being punished for speaking the truth.

Asserting that his comments against state Congress leaders were the opinion of the party workers, he said he was in the Indian National Congress headed by Rahul Gandhi and “not in the Siddu (Siddaramaiah) Congress”.

“Last night, I got the information that I have been suspended from the party... Is it a crime to speak the truth? What I have said is the truth,” Baig said.

Speaking to reporters, he said that he had not criticised Gandhi and that he continued to be a "disciplined soldier of the party".

"My criticism of state leaders is true. Is speaking the truth a crime? They have taken action against me. There are some senior leaders and friends in the party like Ramalinga Reddy, HK Patil, Mallikarjun Kharge and KH Muniyappa. I will meet them and discuss with the party workers on whether to go to Delhi and speak there," he added.