Priyank Kharge calls Kumaraswamy ‘village idiot’ says union minister makes allegations daily

    Bengaluru, Nov 4 (PTI) Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday called Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy a “village idiot” who makes allegations on a daily basis.

    He was reacting to Kumaraswamy’s remark on Tuesday that he was “unfit to be Home Minister”.

    Kumaraswamy had alleged that the inquiry into the alleged sting operation targeting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was being derailed due to pressure from Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Priyank Kharge.

    Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) second-in-command and Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, had further alleged that an email sent by a woman from Keralam to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had gone missing.

    “I saw his statement yesterday. He says that Priyank is unfit to be Home Minister. Such an incompetent person who lies to his own family, to the people of the state, who sheds tears at the slightest opportunity and changes his constituency in every election. If people like him can become CM, should I not even think about my own position?” the minister said.

    Priyank said that if somebody sent an email privately, neither the Child Rights Commission nor the police would know about it.

    The police would know only if the Commission filed a complaint or informed them that such an email had been received, and would begin their work once the Commission reported it, he said.

    “Does a former CM and a sitting union minister not have even basic common sense? Is he a village idiot?” Priyank said, questioning Kumaraswamy’s knowledge of due procedure.

    He said the JD(S) leader woke up every morning and made personal remarks.

    “He should stop acting like a village idiot. I am sorry to say this, but it is a fact. How is the Home Department concerned with this?” Priyank asked.

    He said that when Kumaraswamy was CM, he had the opportunity to get the matter investigated if he had the information. He added that he did not need to learn anything from Kumaraswamy.

    “I do not need your certificate declaring whether I am fit or unfit. The people will decide. Even in the last election, you could not win 100 seats. You will not be able to do so in the next election either,” he told the union minister.

    On the investigation into the alleged sting operation targeting Siddaramaiah, Priyank said the police had recorded what was needed and would disclose the contents once the investigation was completed.

    “When we need to disclose information, and when the investigation is completed, and the chargesheet is filed, it will automatically become a public document,” he said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)