‘Sting Samrat’: Kumaraswamy Alleges DK Shivakumar’s Plot to Oust Siddaramaiah
H.D. Kumaraswamy alleges a conspiracy by CM DK Shivakumar and a journalist to remove Siddaramaiah via a sting operation.
In a blistering attack on the Karnataka government, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and JDS State President H. D. Kumaraswamy has accused Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of orchestrating a calculated conspiracy to remove former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from power. Labeling the Chief Minister the “Sting Samrat of Karnataka,” Kumaraswamy alleged that a coordinated effort involving a journalist was used to mislead the Congress leadership and force a change in leadership.
The Alleged Conspiracy
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Kumaraswamy claimed that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and journalist Rakesh Shetty conspired to conduct a sting operation targeting Siddaramaiah. According to the JDS leader, this was not a random journalistic endeavor but a planned political move designed to ensure Siddaramaiah’s removal from the Chief Minister's office.
Kumaraswamy asserted that the Congress high command was deliberately misled by the architects of this plan. He further accused the journalist, Rakesh Shetty, of engaging in blackmail as part of the operation. The Union Minister has demanded the immediate arrest of everyone involved in this alleged plot.
Claims of Personal Targeting
The controversy extends beyond the former Chief Minister. Kumaraswamy alleged that he too was targeted in an attempt to implicate him in the sting operation case. He claimed there was a specific plan to bring the individual behind the operation to court to record a statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, specifically to link him to the case.
Comparing himself to others, Kumaraswamy stated, “I am not H. D. Revanna, to be easily trapped by such a conspiracy. I know how to counter these moves.” He further alleged that because he could not be easily trapped, the government targeted a young worker from the JDS social media team and created a "ruckus" at another worker's residence.
The Role of the Home Minister
Kumaraswamy pointed a finger at Home Minister Priyank Kharge, alleging that the investigation into the sting operation was accelerated under direct orders from Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. He claimed that the Home Minister's "excessive zeal" led to the harassment of JDS workers while those he named as the real culprits remained untouched.
The list of individuals Kumaraswamy implicated in the attempt to frame him includes:
- Chief Minister DK Shivakumar
- Journalist Rakesh Shetty
- Prashanth of Bagepalli (described as Shetty’s associate)
- Congress leader Krupa Alwa
The 'Leak' and the NICE Project Diversion
One of the most striking parts of Kumaraswamy's allegation concerns the timing of media leaks. He questioned how confidential Cabinet discussions regarding the sting operation were leaked to the press, arguing that such proceedings should remain secret.
Kumaraswamy revealed that he had scheduled a press conference for 11 AM to release documents exposing irregularities in the NICE project. However, he postponed the event to noon to avoid clashing with an address to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He alleged that just minutes before his rescheduled press conference began, details of the Cabinet discussion on the sting operation were leaked to selected media outlets. Kumaraswamy believes this was a strategic move by people close to the Chief Minister to divert public attention away from the NICE project irregularities and shift the focus back to the allegations involving Siddaramaiah.
The Union Minister has now demanded a full explanation from DK Shivakumar regarding why the sting operation file was brought before the Cabinet and has called for the disclosure of its full contents to the public.