Hassan (Karnataka), Oct 24 (PTI) Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge had “conspired” to implicate him in the alleged sting operation targeting former CM Siddaramaiah, claiming that the investigation was being diverted to target the JD(S).
He alleged that the state government was attempting to create suspicion around him despite the accused having purportedly admitted to conducting the sting operation.
The minister of Heavy Industries and Steel also claimed that Shivakumar and Kharge were trying to shift the focus of the investigation towards him and his party.
“We are not afraid of this. Our party has the strength to face it,” Kumaraswamy told reporters.
The JD(S) leader claimed that a news channel head, a woman Congress leader and their associates were involved in the sting operation. Siddaramaiah and his minister son Yathindra Siddaramaiah had also mentioned their names, he stated and questioned why the investigation was allegedly being directed towards the JD(S).
Kumaraswamy alleged that Kharge had targeted the families of young people working in the JD(S) war room and social media wing, with search warrants being issued and their electronic devices seized.
“Instead of pursuing those accused of conducting and recording the sting operation, they are going after our party workers. This investigation is being conducted in a manner that creates suspicion about me,” he alleged.
He further claimed that the police were being used to create an impression that the sting operation had been carried out by the JD(S). Alleging harassment to families of party workers during searches and investigation, he said the JD(S) would intensify its protest if the government attempted to suppress the truth.
The union minister also questioned why the government had allegedly not opposed the anticipatory bail plea of a person allegedly involved in the sting operation.
“Why did the woman Congress leader and head of a TV channel conduct the sting operation. Whom were they conspiring to remove from power. The home minister must answer these questions,” he said.
Alleging that the sting operation was intended to remove Siddaramaiah from office, Kumaraswamy claimed that the chief minister and several Congress leaders were aware of the matter but were concealing the details.
Kumaraswamy also accused Priyank Kharge of attempting to divert attention from the alleged Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam by linking the sting operation to the JD(S).
Rejecting Kharge’s reported remarks that his close associates had fled, the JD(S) leader asked who had absconded and why anyone would need to flee.
He alleged that the KPSC controversy was the reason the government was attempting to shift the focus of the sting operation towards the JD(S).
Meanwhile, Priyank Kharge refuted the allegations made by Kumaraswamy.
(PTI News)
