BENGALURU: In the line of persistent fire of Opposition legislators in the aftermath of deputy superintendent of police MK Ganapati's shock suicide, minister for Bengaluru development, K J George, played the minority card to turn the tables on them in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

"The difference between you and me is ideological. The difference between Mr Shettar and me is that he is Shettar and I am George. That is the reason I am being attacked," he said to counter the demand for his resignation by BJP legislators. He followed it up by throwing the ball in the chief minister's court by saying he would "quit if asked to, by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah."

Denying that he had ever harassed the late police officer, Mr George said he had met Mr Ganapati just once and that the file pertaining to the officer's promotion was never forwarded to him.

On Wednesday, Mr George could face the flak of his own party men, some of whom feel he should step down until his name is cleared. The issue could come up at a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) with the government likely to announce a judicial probe into the police officer's suicide later on. n Pages 3&5