‘He can’t tolerate a Dalit moving ahead’: Priyank Kharge targets HD Kumaraswamy

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Sunday, October 18, accused Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy of resenting the political and social progress of Dalits. The two leaders are engaged in a war of words over a purported sting video involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.“If my wearing a suit is intolerable to Kumaraswamy, I will get 10 suits stitched and wear them. If my speaking English is intolerable to him, I will continue speaking English,” Kharge said at a press conference in Kalaburagi. He alleged that Kumaraswamy could not tolerate a Dalit making political progress.A controversy has erupted over a purported video, said to have been recorded in 2023 and recently aired by local television channels. In the reported sting, Siddaramaiah is linked to alleged blackmail and a purported honey-trap network. Kumaraswamy has accused Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of orchestrating the alleged sting to damage Siddaramaiah’s reputation and force him out of office. Shivakumar has denied the allegation, and the Congress has rejected it. Kumaraswamy has sought an independent probe while accusing the police of targeting JD(S) workers over the video’s circulation. However, Kharge said police should not halt their investigation because some people being questioned were JD(S) members. “Should the police refrain from issuing notices and summoning suspects for questioning just because they are JD(S) activists?” he asked, accusing Kumaraswamy of demanding a probe but objecting when it involved his party’s workers.Kumaraswamy had challenged Kharge to summon him directly instead of detaining JD(S) workers. “If you are a Home Minister, work like one. Issue me a notice if you want, if you have guts,” he said.Kharge also responded to Kumaraswamy’s objection to him and his father, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, contesting from constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes. He questioned whether society was ready to elect Dalit candidates from general constituencies.Kumaraswamy’s remarks prompted a protest in Mandya on October 17, where Congress workers and Dalit and progressive organisations blocked the old Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and formed a human chain. The protesters accused the Union Minister of making personal attacks on a Dalit leader and warned of statewide demonstrations if the remarks continued.