BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said he had documents and evidence about the activities of political rivals and would release them only to the appropriate persons, while hitting back at former CM and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
“I will release them to whoever I am supposed to. Why should I release them to him? When I speak, I speak from a position of responsibility,” Shivakumar told reporters in Delhi. Interestingly, Shivakumar lashed out at HD Kumaraswamy in singular.
“There are records of who is using whom for what work, who has been driven out of town and where people have been sent,” the CM said.
On him warning him minister about possible sting operations against them, Shivakumar said, “I have to tell my ministers, ‘Be careful. They are doing to you what they are doing to me.’ It is my bound duty.”
Taking a dig at the Opposition, he said Kumaraswamy was frustrated following cross-voting by 12 MLAs in the recent MLC polls. “He is in frustration. Twelve MLAs cross-voted and even BJP leaders are criticising him. Both parties are distressed and that is why they are raising various debates,” he said.
On his upcoming political engagements, Shivakumar said he would first complete his visit to Goa.
Shivakumar said that he had warned ministers and officials to remain cautious about attempts to trap them.
Asked whether the alleged operation involved people from Karnataka or other states, Shivakumar declined to elaborate. “I will not reveal everything now. I will answer when the time comes,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said he knew which other leaders were allegedly being targeted but maintained there was no need to disclose all details publicly at present. His remarks came amid a political exchange over Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s allegation that former chief minister Siddaramaiah had been targeted through a sting operation.