Hassan (Karnataka) [India], October 8 : JD(S) Youth Wing state president Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Wednesday hit out at the Karnataka government over the alleged sting operations inside Vidhana Soudha, questioning why ministers were cautioning against such operations and saying that "something is going on inside" if such warnings were being issued.
Speaking in Channarayapatna in Hassan district, Nikhil said senior ministers from the ruling party had themselves expressed concerns about sting operations inside the legislature and said the matter should be left for the public to judge.
"The world knows who has the most knowledge about sting operations. You have seen senior ministers from the same party - veterans who have frequently walked the halls of Vidhana Soudha - expressing concern about sting operations inside the House. There is a record of this within the House. Let us leave this for the public to judge," Nikhil said.
Questioning the warnings allegedly being issued to ministers, he said such statements raised questions about what was happening inside the state legislature.
"If ministers warn, 'Be careful, they might conduct a sting operation,' it implies something is going on inside. Shouldn't the ministers realise that instead of working for the public's benefit, they are prioritising their own interests?" he said.
Nikhil further said the Intelligence Department comes under the Chief Minister and maintained that those responsible for the department should clarify the allegations.
"The Intelligence Department comes under the Chief Minister. It is their government; they are the ones who should speak - can we? Whoever holds charge of the Intelligence Department should speak," he said.
His remarks came after BJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra alleged that a "system" of corruption was operating in the state, claiming that ministers were being asked to switch off their mobile phones, close doors and accept bribes.
Vijayendra had demanded that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar identify those allegedly running such a system and clarify which agencies were conducting sting operations.
The BJP state president had also alleged that a highly influential leader recently called real estate businessmen, asked them to switch off their mobile phones and allegedly demanded an increase in payments.
Vijayendra further alleged that the history of conducting sting operations and blackmailing in Karnataka belonged to the Congress and challenged the state government to clarify the allegations before the people.
Nikhil also criticised the Karnataka government over the delay in drought compensation for farmers, questioned the implementation of the Mekedatu project and said the JD(S) would contest upcoming elections as part of the NDA.