Ballari: Taking serious exception to Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy’s statement about the nexus between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Popular Front of India (PFI), BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on Friday challenged the minister to prove his charges in 24 hours.

Speaking to reporters here, Yeddyurappa dismissing the allegations that three leaders of BJP Minorities Morcha were involved in Deepak Rao murder case, said the charges are false, concocted and politically motivated.

The party MPs from the state have sought the Centre to initiate NIA probe into Deepak Rao murder case, he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should stop politicising Mahadayi river water sharing issue. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is willing to share river water with Karnataka. The state Congress leaders should convince their counterparts on Goa, who are opposing Parrikar’s statement there, Yeddyurappa said.

The BJP will hold a survey in 100 constituencies in the state, where multiple contenders are vying for party ticket, before picking the party candidates, he said.

On the reports about Kudligi MLA B Nagendra joining Congress, Yeddyurappa said that he does not have any information on the issue and that he is free to join any party.

Nagendra, now an Independent MLA from Kudligi, was elected to the 13th Assembly on BJP ticket.To a specific query, Yeddyurappa said Janardhan Reddy is not active in party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the party workers and the public at the concluding ceremony of Parivartana Yatra in Bengaluru on January 28. Party national president Amit Shah will visit Chitradurga on January 10, Yeddyurappa said.