Mysuru, August 28: H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, has accused Karnataka’s Home Minister Priyank Kharge of attempting to conceal alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSc) recruitment process by taking charge of the Home Department.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Kumaraswamy claimed that significant irregularities occurred during the recruitment of Assistant Executive Engineers (Grade-I) when Kharge served as the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR).
Kumaraswamy questioned Kharge’s role as the minister responsible during the time these irregularities took place. He asked, “I want to ask Priyank Kharge, who was the minister of the department when this recruitment occurred? After irregularities surfaced in the selection process, did you take charge of the Home Ministry to suppress the matter? Why didn’t you speak about this scam while you were the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj? Why hasn’t an FIR been filed against the guilty?”
He further alleged that a forensic laboratory report indicated irregularities, yet questioned why no FIR had been registered despite the findings.
Kumaraswamy stated, “Did you rely on the Home Department to cover up the KPSc scam? You claim that everything was transparent during your tenure. However, your department faced criticism in the High Court yesterday, resulting in a fine of 300,000 rupees on your officials. Do you know why?”
He advised Kharge to reflect on his own record before accusing others. Kumaraswamy also targeted Kharge for his repeated criticism of the RSS, asserting, “You often say that the RSS is a threat to the country. In reality, it is the Congress that poses a danger.”
He questioned Kharge’s criticism of the BJP-JD(S) alliance and accused Congress leaders of compromising their principles. Kumaraswamy asked, “Are you talking about our ideology? Don’t we know yours? Is your ideology about forming an alliance with the TVK in Tamil Nadu, abandoning the DMK?”
He criticized Kharge for allegedly avoiding questions about the irregularities in the recruitment process while targeting the JD(S). Kumaraswamy remarked, “Do not speak to us as you do about others. You have committed irregularities and concealed them. First, answer those questions.”
Kumaraswamy also criticized Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi for stating that toll collection on NICE Road cannot be halted, as the agreement between the state government and NICE is still valid for the next ten years. He suggested that Jarkiholi seemed uninformed about the issue.
He said, “If you are not aware of this matter, you should consult legal experts and obtain the necessary information. Instead, you should not mislead the public.”
Responding to the proposed acquisition of 169 acres of agricultural land by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) for industrial purposes, Kumaraswamy stated that he would oppose the move if the land is fertile.
He emphasized, “If this is fertile agricultural land, I will not allow its acquisition under any circumstances. I will personally visit the site to assist the farmers.”
Kumaraswamy expressed his intention to meet with affected farmers to hear their concerns. He added, “I have plans to bring industry to Mandya and have requested dry land for industrial purposes. If that is the case, I do not understand why fertile agricultural land is being acquired here.”
He further mentioned that he would visit agricultural land in the Madaralli area of the Varuna assembly constituency in Mysuru district to assess the situation.
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