Bengaluru, Oct 14 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and JD(S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday accused the Karnataka government of targeting party workers for questioning an alleged conspiracy to tarnish the image of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah through a honey-trap operation.
In a statement, Kumaraswamy alleged that he and his associates were being targeted for questioning what he described as a systematic and organised conspiracy to damage the reputation of former chief minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member Siddaramaiah, who served as Chief Minister of Karnataka for more than eight years.
He claimed that the police had taken away Shankar, a young man working with the JD(S) social media team, on Wednesday morning without registering any case against him.
According to Kumaraswamy, after the party’s legal cell lodged a complaint at the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station, Shankar was allegedly made to call his wife and inform her only that the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police had taken him away, after which the call was disconnected.
“Enough of this deceptive drama. On what grounds was he taken away?” Kumaraswamy asked.
He alleged that instead of acting against the person responsible for recording and circulating the sting operation footage that allegedly damaged Siddaramaiah’s reputation, the police were targeting JD(S) social media workers who questioned the incident.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that the person who recorded the footage, whom he accused of operating under the guise of a media professional, was moving around freely while party workers were being targeted.
“I was the one who questioned the issue and demanded a CBI investigation. If the police have the courage, they should have come directly to me. Why are they showing their power against innocent people?” he asked.
The JD(S) State President further alleged that the police had visited the residence of another social media team member, Mohan, and were creating a disturbance and harassing his family.
Kumaraswamy warned that the party would not remain silent if its workers were subjected to what he described as unnecessary harassment. He said the JD(S) was prepared to fight the matter both politically and legally.
The allegations come amid a political controversy over the sting operation footage involving Siddaramaiah, with opposition leaders demanding a probe into the matter.
–IANS
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