Bengaluru, Oct 14 — The Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday questioned Home Minister Priyank Kharge over their response to the ongoing sting operation controversy involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding a CBI investigation into the case.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the JD-S questioned whether it was wrong to demand an investigation into the sting operation and asked Priyank Kharge whether he considered himself an authoritarian for suggesting that others should not speak about the issue.
“In a democracy, the Constitution gives everyone equal rights to question and raise their voice for justice,” the party said.
The JD-S asked who was behind the alleged attempt to tarnish Siddaramaiah's reputation through the sting operation and why the Congress government was delaying the disclosure of the name of the person responsible.
“Have you forgotten that Siddaramaiah's efforts helped you win the Chittapur Assembly seat and become a minister? Do you have the courage to reveal the reason behind the move to remove Siddaramaiah from the Chief Minister's post?” the party asked Priyank Kharge.
The party said the sting operation controversy had become a subject of discussion across the country and criticised the state Home Minister for remaining silent on the issue.
It also questioned why the government was reluctant to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), asking whether it feared that an investigation would expose the alleged involvement of people associated with the government and a prominent political leader.
The JDS further accused Priyank Kharge of showing urgency in securing a civic amenity (CA) site for the Siddhartha Trust while failing to stand up for justice when Siddaramaiah's reputation was allegedly being targeted.
State President of the party and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had demanded transparency in the investigation and questioned the government's response to the controversy, which has triggered a political confrontation in Karnataka.