The Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday dropped a bombshell by releasing an audio tape of BJP’s state chief BS Yeddyurappa’s alleged conversation with a JDS MLA’s son, who he’s trying to lure by offering money and a ministerial berth.
In the audio, according to Kumaraswamy, Yeddyurappa had tried to lure the JDS MLA Naganagowda Kandkur’s son Sharana by allegedly offering him Rs 25 crore and a ministerial post if his father switched loyalty in favour of the BJP.
Kumaraswamy lashed out at Modi for the latter’s hypocrisy on the issue of corruption as he said, “On one side Narendra Modi is preaching to the country and politicians, on the other side, he is encouraging his friends to demolish democracy through black money. I will expose this now, I have the proof to back my charge.”
His jibe was in reference to Modi’s long speech in the parliament on Thursday, when he claimed how his government had adopted zero tolerance towards corruption. Kumaraswamy, according to news agency ANI, said, “He (PM) is systemically demolishing this country’s democracy, misleading the people, I request all the opposition parties to rise. They must expose the truth of the Prime Minister in the parliament.”
Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy: He (PM) is systemically demolishing this country’s democracy, misleading the people, I request all the opposition parties to rise. They must expose the truth of the Prime Minister in the parliament. pic.twitter.com/mbZ6om0ygq
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2019
Meanwhile, a lawyer, identified as RLN Murthy has filed a complaint against Yeddyurappa, Malleshwaram BJP MLA Ashwath Narayan and others alleging that BJP had committed an offence by kidnapping and wrongfully confining some members of the legislative assembly and not allowing them to participate in the budget session 2019.
Elsewhere, Basanagouda Daddal, Congress MLA from Raichur, who was believed to have been upset with his party, appeared before the media on Friday to clarify that reports of his disgruntlement with the party were ‘baseless’. “I’m in the party, I haven’t gone anywhere. That’s the reason I’m attending the legislative party meeting. All rumours spread by media,” he was quoted as saying.
Last month, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for attempting to poach his MLAs in Karnataka with ‘Rs 50-Rs 70 crore’ each. This was after several reports emerged that at least three Congress MLAs had gone missing, bringing the coalition government in the state to a minority.