MANDYA: Karnataka Agriculture Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy has questioned Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s allegation that a ₹600 crore deal was planned to target the family of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, asking whether anyone would pay such a huge amount for that purpose.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, October 27, Chaluvarayaswamy criticised Kumaraswamy’s claims against Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and said the allegations surrounding an alleged sting operation should be examined through an investigation.
The controversy has intensified the political confrontation between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), with Kumaraswamy alleging a conspiracy against his family and questioning the state government’s handling of the sting operation case.
Chaluvarayaswamy questions the ₹600 crore claim
Chaluvarayaswamy questioned the credibility of Kumaraswamy’s claim that ₹600 crore had been arranged to politically target the Deve Gowda family.
The minister also questioned whether the alleged sting operation had been conclusively established, saying that the available material included a voice recording and that its authenticity and implications needed to be examined during the investigation.
He said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the circulation of the video had made substantial progress. According to his remarks, authorities had uncovered around 90% of the details relating to the release of the video.
The minister’s comments came after Kumaraswamy accused Shivakumar of orchestrating an alleged ₹600 crore deal intended to politically eliminate the family of Deve Gowda, the JD(S) founder.
Kumaraswamy has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the matter. However, the alleged deal and the wider conspiracy claims have not been independently established.
Kumaraswamy links allegation to sting operation controversy
Kumaraswamy’s accusations are linked to an ongoing political dispute involving an alleged sting operation concerning former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The Union Minister has alleged that the investigation is being directed towards JD(S) leaders and workers instead of those he believes were responsible for conducting and circulating the recordings. He has also accused Shivakumar and state Home Minister Priyank Kharge of attempting to implicate the JD(S) in the controversy.
Kumaraswamy has called for an impartial investigation and questioned the circumstances in which the recordings were obtained and circulated. He has also argued that the investigation should identify those responsible rather than focus on party workers.
The allegations remain contested, and the available reports do not establish that Shivakumar orchestrated a ₹600 crore deal. The investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the recordings and the competing claims made by political leaders.
Minister brings up Hassan pen drive case
During his interaction with reporters, Chaluvarayaswamy also criticised Kumaraswamy over his response to the Hassan pen drive controversy.
The minister questioned Kumaraswamy’s priorities, alleging that he had focused on action against those who released the pen drive rather than the alleged injustice faced by women associated with the case.
These remarks added another layer to the political exchange, with both sides raising allegations and questioning the conduct of their opponents.
Chaluvarayaswamy’s comments were political criticism and did not constitute a finding on the merits of the separate cases. The allegations relating to the sting operation and the ₹600 crore claim remain matters requiring verification.
Mandya land request also draws minister’s remarks
Chaluvarayaswamy also responded to Kumaraswamy’s letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking land for industrial development in Mandya.
According to the minister, Kumaraswamy had sought around 100 acres through the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). Chaluvarayaswamy pointed out that the request had been taken up by the state government, despite Kumaraswamy’s earlier criticism of the Chief Minister’s legitimacy.
The minister said the Chief Minister had responded promptly to the request. His remarks highlighted the contrast between the political accusations exchanged by the leaders and their dealings with the state government over development proposals.
Chaluvarayaswamy also rejected claims that discussions with sugarcane farmers had failed. He said the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister had held talks with farmers and sugar factory owners, while decisions concerning the minimum support price (MSP) and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane rested with the Union government.
Political dispute continues amid calls for investigation
The exchange reflects growing tensions between the Congress government in Karnataka and the JD(S) over the alleged sting operation. Kumaraswamy has demanded a thorough probe, while Chaluvarayaswamy has questioned the basis of the ₹600 crore allegation and urged that the claims be assessed through the investigation.
The central issue remains whether evidence supports the allegations surrounding the recordings, their circulation and the purported deal. Until the investigation establishes the facts, the claims against individual political leaders should be treated as allegations rather than proven conclusions.