Kumaraswamy said recent political developments in Karnataka were creating an “extremely bad political culture”.
NEW DELHI: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday attacked the Congress party and Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar over an incident during the INDIA bloc's protest march in Delhi, warning that soon he "will be pushed out from CM post."Speaking to the media, Kumaraswamy said he was raising the issue with pain and would not comment further on Monday’s incident, in which Shivakumar was allegedly pulled back by security personnel during the march. However, he suggested that the episode could have wider political implications.“It is just the beginning, Congress will eventually push him out from CM post,” Kumaraswamy said, adding that “the day is not far when even his chair will be pulled away.”
The remarks came after the BJP shared a video circulating online that appeared to show Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pulling Shivakumar by the collar as the two marched towards the Supreme Court to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Moments later, Shivakumar appeared to be pulled back as the Congress MP moves forward with the crowd.Kumaraswamy also said that said recent political developments in Karnataka were creating an “extremely bad political culture” that needed to end.
He said the state was grappling with several pressing issues, including farmers’ demand for a scientifically determined price for sugarcane, drought conditions, and matters concerning the Bidadi township and the NICE project.However, he alleged that the controversy surrounding a sting operation had overshadowed these concerns after the chief minister raised the issue at a Cabinet meeting.Kumaraswamy also questioned Shivakumar’s alleged appointment of four retired police officers at his Sadashivanagar residence, claiming they had been tasked with gathering information about discussions among ministers.“Earlier, he had appointed only journalists to gather information for his office. Now, he has appointed four police officers to gather information about what is being discussed by ministers in his Cabinet. This discussion has begun within the police department,” Kumaraswamy claimed.On the sting operation case, he said the Nija Horata Samiti had filed a complaint in court and that an investigation was underway.
He also alleged that a former chief minister had obtained a stay from the court in the matter.Kumaraswamy accused Shivakumar of initiating the sting operation controversy and said he should now face its consequences.“Mr Shivakumar, you were the one who initiated the sting operation. You nurtured it and allowed it to grow into a major controversy. Now you must face the consequences,” he said.Kumaraswamy also referred to the Prajwal Revanna case, alleging that videos were circulated on pen drives in Mandya and Hassan just four days before polling during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.He claimed that a recorded conversation and an audio clip involving a lawyer and others pointed to an alleged conspiracy to tarnish the Deve Gowda family. He also alleged that Shivakumar had spoken about getting complaints filed through women and the circulation of videos.Kumaraswamy further referred to the Ramesh Jarkiholi case, alleging that a conspiracy had been hatched against him. These claims were not independently established in the information provided.He urged Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah to speak out on the controversy and call for an inquiry. Referring to Siddaramaiah as his political teacher and a leader who had fought for the AHINDA community, Kumaraswamy said the chief minister should help establish the truth.“I don't say he should destabilise the government, but it is his teacher who fought for the AHINDA community from the political beginning.
He should speak about these issues and bring out what is the truth and a CBI enquiry must be done,” he said.Kumaraswamy stressed that the controversy could damage the state’s reputation beyond the individuals involved.“It is not about one person or one family. These things will destroy the family culture in Karnataka and these kind of sting operations can bring very bad name to the whole state,” he said.“That is why I am demanding an enquiry that has to be done on the proposal of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in Karnataka.
I am also meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the upcoming days to request the same,” he added.Kumaraswamy argued that approaching the court did not resolve the underlying issues and called for an inquiry into the alleged sting operations.
He also criticised the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that investigated the Prajwal Revanna case, questioning its role and accusing it of remaining silent to protect certain people.“I’m asking, where is that SIT team, which did all these blenders in Karnataka and now keeping quite to safeguard some people with Distrupting agenda,” he said.Kumaraswamy added that he had not raised these issues when HD Revanna and his family were targeted and Prajwal Revanna was jailed following the SIT investigation.