Kumaraswamy damaging stature of office he holds, says Priyank Kharge

Launching a scathing attack on Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the JD(S) leader was damaging not only his own dignity but also the stature of the office he holds through his statements.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Friday (October 16), Mr. Kharge said Mr. Kumaraswamy had “little work in Delhi” and was unable to find leadership opportunities in Karnataka. “Hence, he is making all sorts of allegations,” he said.

SIT probe

Reacting to the demand for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, Mr. Kharge said investigations by the police, SIT or the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) would all be conducted by State police personnel and would make little difference. A decision to entrust a case to an SIT or the CID was taken only when concerns were raised over transparency or a possible conflict of interest, he said.

Referring to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s demonstration outside the office of the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner on Thursday (October 15), Mr. Kharge said the Union Minister should produce evidence instead of merely “firing shots in the air”. The police would certainly investigate the matter if evidence was provided, he said.

“If the names of his close associates and trusted aides are mentioned, should they not be summoned for an investigation? I do not understand what Kumaraswamy’s problem is,” the Home Minister said, defending the police questioning of persons reportedly associated with the JD(S) social media team.

He added that the State police could not conduct investigations according to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s dictates.

RSS ‘bhakt’

Describing Mr. Kumaraswamy as an “RSS bhakt”, Mr. Kharge alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) could not be questioned without inviting the wrath of Central agencies such as the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate.

“The RSS has outsourced its work to Mr. Kumaraswamy,” he alleged.

Responding to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s allegation that he had wished another heart attack upon the Union Minister, Mr. Kharge said he was merely responding to the JD(S) leader, who had attacked him personally.

“I said that he would suffer another heart attack if I spoke about his family. But let him live for many more years,” Mr. Kharge said.

Prajwal case

Mr. Kharge also raised the issue of the sexual abuse cases involving Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, and questioned Mr. Kumaraswamy’s failure to apologise to the women who were victims of his nephew’s crimes.

Referring to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s protest outside the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner’s office, Mr. Kharge asked: “Has Mr. Kumaraswamy apologised for the injustice done to the women of Hassan by his family?”