Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy landed in a major controversy after he was caught on camera on Monday instructing someone to shoot dead the killers of a Janata Dal (Secular) leader.
In a video released by ANI on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy was heard saying that the murdered JD(S) leader, Prakash, “was a good man”.
“He (murdered JDS leader Prakash) was a good man. I don’t know why did they murder him. Kill them (assailants) mercilessly in a shootout, no problem,” Kumaraswamy was heard saying in the video.
He was at the time speaking to someone on phone. It is not clear who the person on the other side was but reports say it could be a senior police official.
Soon after the video of the CM went viral, Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa slammed Kumaraswamy for his remarks.
“I never expected this from the chief minister. If he speaks like this, what will happen to the law and order situation? An irresponsible and nonsense statement by Kumaraswamy,” Yeddyurappa said.
The BJP in Karnataka put out two tweets condemning the CM’s remarks.
“377 farmers died but CM didn’t care Humans were found treated as bonded labour’s in JDS strong hold but CM remains silent. & when a JDS Karyakartha was murdered @hd_kumaraswamy orders cops to immediately shoot culprits shows all that matters to him is his party & nothing else,” read a tweet.
377 farmers died but CM didn’t care
Humans were found treated as bonded labour’s in JDS strong hold but CM remains silent.
& when a JDS Karyakartha was murdered @hd_kumaraswamy orders cops to immediately shoot culprits shows all that matters to him is his party & nothing else.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) December 25, 2018
The BJP also lambasted the CM for his silence on all other matters concerning the people of the state including rampant corruption, killing of government officials and the news of enslavement of Dalits.
Farmers died – No emotions
Govt officials killed – Doesn’t matter
Massive Corruption – That’s ok
No development programs – I don’t print note
Dalits pushed to Slavery – hmmm
JDS Karyakartha murdered – Orders cops to immediately shoot
For Kumaraswamy all that matters is JDS
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) December 25, 2018
As the heat over his remark increased, a cornered Kumaraswamy on Tuesday played the emotion card in his defence.
“It (killing assailants mercilessly) was not my order. I was emotional at that moment. They (killers) are the reason for two murders and they were in jail,” Kumaraswamy was quoted as saying by ANI.
“They came out on bail two days ago and killed another person (JDS leader Prakash), this is how they are misusing bail,” he added.
JD(S) leader Honnalagere Prakash was a district-level party member who was killed by four bike-borne assailants while he was travelling in his car on the on Mysuru Road near Maddur on Monday around 4.30 pm.
Reports say that the men blocked the car, opened the back door, and attacked Prakash with machetes. The JD(S) leader was rushed to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, where he succumbed to his injuries.