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Bangalore, Jul 6 (PTI): Unfazed by the controversy over an audio CD about him purportedly discussing about cash-for- seat with the supporters of an MLC seat aspirant, JDS leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today defended himself, saying it had been blown out of proportion as if he had "committed a sin".

As he remained in the eye of a storm facing strong criticism over his purported remarks in the CD, Kumaraswamy said there was nothing that corroborated that he had been paid any money.

He said, "In this case I have explained internal party realities with my party workers. It has been blown out of proportion as though I have committed a sin. There is nothing that corroborates that some one has paid any money....."

Kumaraswamy's defence drew flak from both the Congress and BJP.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Kumaraswamy could not defend himself claiming other parties were also indulging in corruption.

Kumaraswamy is at the vortex of a controversy after yesterday's release of an audio CD about him purportedly telling the supporters of MLC seat aspirant Vijugowda Patil, a JDS leader from Bijapur district, about the demand for money from his party MLAs.

In the CD whose clips were played on Kannada TV channels, Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, was purportedly heard telling the supporters of Patil, "Each MLA (of JDS) is asking for one crore. They are saying you make anybody the MLC..."

At another point, Kumaraswamy was heard saying, "40 people (JDS MLAs) are asking for 40 crore... This is my fate." Hitting out at Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah said "Whoever has done.. mistake is a mistake. Corruption is corruption. If he (Kumaraswamy) says other parties are also doing it, it is not a defence at all.
Asked about Kumaraswamy's allegations that all parties are involved in such scandals, Siddaramaiah said, "If a cat drinks the milk closing its eyes, it doesn't mean that the entire world is not watching it drink the milk."

Union Minister Ananth Kumar demanded a thorough probe into the controversy and said the guilty should be punished. "Whoever is guilty, after a thorough probe, he should be punished," he said.

On Kumaraswamy's assertion that all parties were committing the same electoral crime, he said it is very unfortunate that the former chief minister is saying so.

However, brushing aside the attacks on him, Kumaraswamy said he enjoyed full confidence of his MLAs and other party leaders. "....they openly discuss all their difficulties with me." After the controversy erupted, Kumaraswamy yesterday did not disown the authenticity of the conversation but said he had only discussed the direction in which the current politics was moving and it was not proper to portray him as a villain when he only discussed in general the harsh reality of politics.

He had also said he was ready for a public debate in the Legislative Assembly or outside.

 

 

 

 

 

Update

Bangalore, Jul 6 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today hit out at JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, who is caught in a row over an audio CD allegedly discussing about money to be paid to his party MLAs by an aspirant for MLC seat, saying he could not defend himself claiming other parties were also indulging in corruption.

"I haven't seen the conversation in the CD. I will not comment on it. Let people of the state take a decision on it," Siddaramaiah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Kumaraswamy is at the centre of a controversy after yesterday's release of an audio CD about him purportedly telling the supporters of MLC seat aspirant Vijugowda Patil, a JD(S) leader from Bijapur district, about the demand for money from his party MLAs.

Asked about Kumaraswamy's allegations that all parties are involved in such scandals, Siddaramaiah said, "If a cat drinks the milk closing its eyes, it doesn't mean that the entire world is not watching it drink the milk."

"Whoever has done.. mistake is a mistake. Corruption is corruption. If he (Kumaraswamy) says other parties are also doing it, is not a defence at all," he said.

In the CD which surfaced mysteriously with all the Kannada TV channels playing the audio clip, Kumaraswamy was purportedly heard telling the supporters of Patil "Each MLA (of JDS) is asking for one crore. They are saying you make anybody the MLC..."

At another point, Kumaraswamy was heard saying "40 people (JDS MLAs) are asking for 40 crore... This is my fate."

Reacting to it, Kumaraswamy did not disown the authenticity of the conversation but said he had only discussed the direction in which the current politics was moving and it was not proper to portray him as a villain when he only discussed in general the harsh reality of politics.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ananth Kumar demanded a thorough probe into the cash-for-seat controversy and said the guilty should be punished.

"Whoever is guilty, after a thorough probe, he should be punished," he said.

Kumar also wanted amendments for holding free and fair Legislative Council elections as it is done while conducting Rajya Sabha polls.

"I will also urge as a minister that there should be same type of amendments for legislative (council) elections also like they are in for Rajya Sabha elections because biggest disease or problem of these elections are horse-trading and we need to bring it to an end by bringing in systemic changes," he said.

Reacting to Kumaraswamy's allegations that all parties were committing the same electoral crime, he said it was very unfortunate that the former Chief Minister is saying so.

He said during Atal Behari Vajpayee-led NDA rule at the Centre, the BJP tried to bring in reforms in both the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.

"We could make the Rajya Sabha elections transparent."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bangalore, Jul 6 (DHNS) : A CD purportedly showing JD (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy telling his party workers that each of the party MLA was demanding Rs one crore for exercising his/her franchise in the Legislative Council elections, surfaced on Saturday. The JD(S) won one seat in the recently held Council polls.

 

The reported conversation took place between Kumaraswamy and the supporters of JD (S) leader Vijugoud Patil before the elections. 

 

Patil is from Babaleshwar of Bijapur district. His  followers had met former chief minister Kumaraswamy seeking ticket to their leader. They had met him under the banner of ‘Vijugoud Patil Abhimana Balaga’.

 

The conversation that purportedly took place was released as a CD to media houses on Saturday, by the Abhimana Balaga. The veracity of the 31-minutes audio CD was not confirmed. 

 

During the conversation, when the followers of Patil insisted that ticket should be given to him, a voice resembling that of Kumaraswamy was heard saying, “I am ready. But voters are MLAs. What can I do if they do not vote?

 

Our MLAs have put forth a demand that each of them be paid Rs one crore by the contestants. We will get only one seat. Trading is happening.”

 

He further said that his party legislators have been saying that they had taken loan and hence they need money. Each of them are demanding Rs one crore from the contestants to the Rajya Sabha and the Council elections.

 

“Those who have made money when we were in power for 40 months are also demanding money. They have formed a group and demanding money,” he was heard saying. 

 

When the associates argued that Patil enjoyed the support of pontiffs of North Karnataka, Kumaraswamy was heard losing temper and said, “I respect swamijis. But not a single swamiji has praised our work. No swamiji has brought us even 50 votes. We have to listen to our legislators.”

 

When the followers realise that it is not possible to field Patil, they, sarcastically say, “We will also give Rs 40 crore. All voters will pool in money.” Then Kumaraswamy was heard saying Rs 25 crore would do. But the supporters offered Rs 10 crore, according to the contents of the CD.

 

Kumaraswamy is also heard saying that those who reaped benefits from him were trying to make money in the Council elections.