Decision likely on Bansal after polling in Karnataka

The government is expected to take a decision on Pawan Kumar Bansal after the polling for the Karnataka Assembly elections get over on Sunday.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is expected to take a decision on Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, whose nephew has been arrested on charges of accepting bribe, after the polling for the Karnataka Assembly elections get over on Sunday. This comes a day after the Congress Core Group, headed by party president Sonia Gandhi, met on Saturday at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue. Earlier on Saturday, the Prime Minister also called and talked to Bansal. According to sources, Bansal had explained his position claiming he had no business links with his nephew, Vijay Singla, nor did he get influenced by him in decision making. On his part, Bansal had distanced himself from his nephew who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly accepting Rs 90 lakh for fixing a better position for Railway Board member Mahesh Kumar. In a statement, 64-year-old Bansal, who was made Railway Minister in October last year, claimed he has always observed the highest standards of probity in public life and that nobody can influence his decisions. He also sought an expeditious CBI inquiry into the issue. Interestingly, the AICC also appeared to back him with party generaly secretary Janardan Dwivedi brushing demands for Bansal`s resignation saying it has become a "disease " for the Opposition to make such demands.