Will retire from politics if probe proves it's my voice: BS Yeddyurappa

Bengaluru: State BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday strongly refuted claims by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy that he was trying to pull down his government and offered to retire from active politics if it was proved that the voice on the audio tape of him allegedly luring a JD(S) MLA to his party, was actually his.

Calling the audio tape a fake , he alleged it was doctored using an impersonator to mimic his voice. "The Chief Minister is a seasoned filmmaker. He can produce and direct good movies. I think this is one such film. He says I was in Devadurga yesterday. Let him prove it. If investigation shows that the voice on the tape is mine, I will not only resign as an MLA , but also retire from active politics immediately," he declared, adding, “Neither I nor any of my party leaders have offered any money or post to the Congress or Janata Dal (Secular) legislators. The Chief Minister is an expert at coming out with such stories to defame the BJP. A fake audio tape had been created to divert the attention of people from the controversies surrounding the coalition government.”

The BJP leader contended that Mr Kumaraswamy was desperate as a number of JD(S) and Congress MLAs did not turn up for the joint session of the legislature and for the presentation of the budget.

“Around 15 to 20 Congress and JD(S) legislators have gone missing and a section of Congress legislators want Mr Siddaramaiah as their Chief Minister. Instead of blaming others, the Congress and JD(S) should keep their flock together,” he suggested, adding “ people are not fools to believe the audio tape theory.”

Turning the tables on Mr Kumaraswamy, he alleged it was he who had offered a ministerial post to Aland BJP MLA, Subhash Guttedar if he joined the JD(S).