The issue of phone-tapping in Karnataka has split the Congress party apart with two important party leaders fighting it out in the open
Bengaluru: Two prominent Karnataka Congressmen, troubleshooter MLA DK Shivakumar and former home minister MB Patil are at loggerheads. The issue concerns the tapping of phone conversations involving political bigwigs.
As strange as it may sound, Patil himself had expressed doubts over the issue. A local news channel has quoted him saying, “I want a detailed investigation to take place. While a few officials in the police department have told me snooping has taken place, some others have said no such thing has taken place. So a probe would be good.”
But Shivakumar dismissed his reactions and has said, “MB Patil wants to do politics. Let him do it. That is the reason he is resorting to such things.”
Moments after Shivakumar’s observations, Patil tried to mend fences. He said, “He and I belong to the same party. What is said was that an investigation should take place and nothing more beyond that. DK Shivakumar has certainly got confused. I force the CM to investigate the issue. I will write a letter to him in this regard.”
Patil and Shivakumar have always crossed swords in public. In relation to the separate Lingayat religion status, Shivakumar had apologised over the issue saying that no government should indulge in issues related to religion, culture or caste-related issues. To this, Patil had taken strong exception and retorted by saying “Who is DK Shivakumar to tender an apology? Why did he apologise on behalf of the Congress government?”
Back to the issue of phone tapping.
Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has been at the receiving end as he faces of allegations of tapping phone conversations of BJP leaders, disgruntled leaders who were put up in a Mumbai hotel.
His father and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has dismissed it as “political conspiracy” while other Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjun Kharge have sought a fair probe into the issue.
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