A ‘mystery letter’ that landed in the hands of BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal exposed the honey-trap scandal that rocked the Karnataka Assembly last week.
While speculations are rife over the scandal being a part of the power tussle within the ruling Congress, the opposition party leader’s role in blowing up the alleged scandal on the floor of the House has aroused curiosity in the political circles.
On March 20, Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna put an end to speculation by exposing a “honey-trap attempt” on the floor of the House, and also claimed that 48 other prominent politicians in the state and the country had fallen victim to the racket. However, what prompted Rajanna to admit he, too, was a honey-trap victim was Yatnal raising the issue impromptu in the House much to the annoyance of Speaker U.T. Khader.
Yatnal, who had concluded his speech on the state budget, stood up abruptly and alleged that the honey-trap scandal that is being discussed in murmurs in the state, was the handiwork of a senior Congress leader to tarnish the image of his political opponents. Prior to this sudden revelation, an attender had brought a closed envelope to the BJP leader, who went through the contents and urged the government to protect the elected representatives, saying anybody could be targeted. The issue was raised soon after Rajanna and Home Minister G. Parameshwara had walked into the Assembly.
State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra stated that the honey-trap incident narrated by the senior minister was alarming and slammed the government for taking the matter “lightly”. “This scandal is a part of the intense competition for the chief minister’s post within the ruling Congress,” added Vijayendra, who also demanded a CBI probe into the case.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok alleged that Rajanna and Parameshwar had met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his chamber and perhaps apprised him about the honey-trap incident just before entering the House.
“It is a serious charge made by Rajanna and needs to be probed as all our reputation is at stake. His statement is now the House property and the Congress should not try to cover up the case on orders from their central leaders. I also have information that the chief minister himself has sent Rajanna to raise the issue in the Assembly and they have sent a chit to Yatnal to initiate the debate,” claimed Ashok, adding a judicial inquiry or a CBI probe was necessary.
Arvind Bellad, a BJP legislator said, “Personal attack and honey-trapping to rein in your political opponent is a dangerous development as people lose respect for all politicians. Everyone knows who is resorting to honey-trapping,” said Bellad.
“By exposing the scandal in the House, the incumbent CM could be trying to save his chair or it could be the handiwork of anyone,” said BJP MLA Srivatsa.
Meanwhile, Rajanna, who had demanded a “high-level” probe into the case, chose not to file a formal complaint while Home Minister G. Parameshwara claimed that unless Rajanna gave a complaint, no FIR or probe was possible.
Two days back, AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge met Siddaramaiah and expressed disappointment over the “poor handling” of the issue and said it had damaged the party’s image across the country.
Five days after exposing the scandal in the House, Rajanna is yet to file a complaint. On Tuesday, he claimed he had written a three-page letter and would personally hand it over to the home minister.
Yatnal confirmed to the media that he did receive an “anonymous” letter in a closed envelope. “I did get a letter but don’t know who wrote it. If I reveal the contents of the letter, senior leaders of both parties (Congress and BJP) might have to go home,” said Yatnal in a cryptic reply.
