Bengaluru: Dismissing the sting operation by the India Today news channel that showed two of its MLAs allegedly negotiating a deal in crores for their votes in the coming Rajya Sabha poll, as misleading, the JD(s) on Friday claimed the two men were merely joking and not serious when bandying the figures around. It has also requested the Chief Election Commission to put off the election till it receives a report on the matter.
“G.T. Deve Gowda has sought a CBI inquiry into the episode as he has never asked for money from anyone. How can you level allegations based on someone talking? Besides, look at Mr Khooba's statement. He is never serious and was simply asking how much would you give?
Do you want one vote or ten votes.... he was basically pulling the other person's legs,'' JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda claimed when asked about his legislators, G.T. Deve Gowda and Mallikarjun Khooba, caught on camera apparently demanding money in the sting operation.
Holding party rebels, Zameer Ahamed Khan and N . Cheluvarayaswamy responsible for the sting by the television channel, he said he was aware they were upto something for the last three months. ''I know that this entire episode is aimed at destroying the JD(S). I have information about what Mr Zameer and Mr Cheluvarayaswamy have been doing for the last three months,” he said, adding that he had convened a meeting of “ party loyalists” on June 12 to decide its future course of action.
Also accusing Chief Minister Siddaramiah of trying to destroy the Janata Dal (SW) he said,” I know why he and M P Prakash left the party. And now he is trying to destroy it. Just because D K Shivakumar has become the KPCC President, the JD(S) will not be destroyed.''
The party has also recalled that it had written to the Chief Election Commissioner as early as May 29 to put off the elections as the independent candidates, who were backing its candidate, had changed sides within 24 hours, indicating that something was not right. Senior leader, H D Revanna accused the Congress of “persuading” the independents and other party legislators by questionable means to back its candidates for the poll. The election has become a fertile ground for horse trading,” he charged, demanding that the Congress’ third candidate in the RS poll, K C Ramamurthy should be disqualified and a criminal case filed against him for admitting as much.
HDK: will quit politics if bribery allegations are proven
Reacting to the sting operation by an English news channel that allegedly shows his party MLAs demanding cash for their vote in the coming RS poll, state JD(S) president, H.D. Kumaraswamy declared on Friday he would retire from politics if party candidate, M B Farook was found guilty of offering money to legislators for their support. “This is a systematic conspiracy to target my party,” he claimed, speaking to reporters here. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the episode and cancellation of the Rajya Sabha poll till the matter was investigated. The fact that only Karnataka had been chosen for the sting operation showed the Congress was plotting against his party, he maintained.
