Karnataka sleazegate: three ministers quit

Bangalore, Feb 8 (IANS) Three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers in Karnataka resigned from their posts Wednesday, a day after two of them were caught watching porn on the third minister's phone in the state assembly.

Laxman Savadi, C.C. Patil and J. Krishna Palemar had voluntarily resigned, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda told reporters.

"I have accepted them and forwarded to the Governor for acceptance," he said.

The three ministers, he added, had denied any wrong doing and sought a probe which they claimed would prove them innocent of charges.

Private Kannada TV channels Tuesday showed Savadi intently watching the clip while Patil appeared to take a brief look at them. Both said the cell phone belonged to Palemar.

State BJP chief K.S. Eshwarappa and former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said that the three ministers had quit voluntarily "so as not to embarrass the party".

Savadi held the cooperation portfolio, Patil handled women and child welfare while Palemar looked after environment and ports.

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