HD Kumaraswamy has returned to Karnataka after his trip to the United States and is repeating once more that he will reveal information that will create a big political storm in the state. Kumaraswamy visited the samadhi of Chennamma, his mother, and met the media, reiterating that he stands by the statements he made before travelling to the US.
Kumaraswamy went on to say he would not remain silent about alleged irregularities and corruption in Karnataka and said he would present the evidence in front of the people. “The allegations about recruitment and other irregularities are not based on political statements but on documents that he claims to have,” he said.
Kumaraswamy claimed that irregularities in KPSC and AEE recruitment processes have taken place under the present government and lakhs of young job aspirants’ interests were compromised. Kumaraswamy said he didn’t want to make any allegations about anyone without any such evidence and that the public will ultimately decide how to judge the issues he raises in the end.
Kumaraswamy added: “I will not talk about anyone without documents.” He added that he is firmly anchored in what he said before he left for America. He also referred to photographs he had seen during his US visit of a contractor associated with the NICE project meeting Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, one of the central government contractors to whom this project was supposed to be carried out. Kumaraswamy said that this meeting would be one of the political questions that he would address.
The JD(S) leader seemed to tease the media on the timing of his proposed disclosure. He said people had been wondering what he would reveal and when he would return. Kumaraswamy said he would not disappoint journalists and claimed that the major issue would be brought out soon.
He said Vijayadashami could be the moment at which he makes the disclosure, because the festival is an auspicious period usually associated with the beginning of military campaigns and major endeavours.
‘My Pen Drive Is Different’
A large part of Kumaraswamy's comments focused on the political controversy about pen drives. He claimed that the pen drive in his possession is different from the one displayed or referred to by DK Shivakumar.
Kumaraswamy said he was not carrying an empty pen drive just for political drama. He also compared his approach with the distribution of large numbers of pen drives during elections, saying he would not follow such a strategy.
According to Kumaraswamy, some of his friends had given him documents and material about alleged irregularities in the Congress government and advised him to disclose them at the right time. He said he would decide when and how the material should be made public.
Kumaraswamy also claimed that the issue he would raise would have DK Shivakumar's name associated with it. He also questioned the circumstances surrounding recent political controversies involving NICE, KPSC, Parappana Agrahara and the case of former MP Prajwal Revanna.
Kumaraswamy asked why certain matters about Prajwal Revanna had finally resurfaced after so long, and wondered whether political motives were behind them. These remarks were part of his broader criticism of the Congress government and its leadership.
Satish Jarkiholi Also Mentioned
Kumaraswamy also discussed reports about Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi. He said Jarkiholi had not personally met him and referred to comments made by the Congress leader regarding developments in his own party.
Kumaraswamy then launched another political attack, saying that internal Congress politics was affecting the treatment of senior leaders. He said that political rivals such as Satish Jarkiholi and Ramesh Jarkiholi were targeted when they emerged as potential contenders for important positions.
He said Satish Jarkiholi, who has been discussed as a potential aspirant for the Karnataka Chief Minister's post, could face political pressure because of such ambitions. These are Kumaraswamy’s allegations and are not independently established.
The Union Minister also questioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s earlier comments about possible raids involving several individuals. Kumaraswamy asked who had provided the information to the Chief Minister and suggested that the Congress itself should clarify the source of such information.
Kumaraswamy Escalates Attack on DK Shivakumar
Kumaraswamy's strongest criticism was directed at Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. He accused Shivakumar of pursuing politics driven by rivalry and claimed that political opponents were being targeted.
He also mentioned former minister B Nagendra and suggested that similar political tactics could be employed against other Congress leaders. Kumaraswamy accused Shivakumar of mixing political rivalry with allegations of corruption and alleged wrongdoing.
The Congress leadership has earlier rejected political attacks from the opposition, while Kumaraswamy has repeatedly positioned himself as a critic of the Karnataka government's functioning.
His comments are likely to escalate the political tension between the JD(S)-BJP opposition camp and the ruling Congress in Karnataka. With Kumaraswamy promising to display what he believes is the best evidence, attention is now likely to be on what he actually presents, when it is released and whether the allegations can be independently verified.
Kumaraswamy has made it clear that he intends to continue his campaign against the Karnataka government and has already promised a major disclosure. The extent to which it will result in the kind of political upheaval he predicted will depend on the evidence and the Congress government’s response.
