Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy addressed an emergency press conference at his official residence before the scheduled presentation of the budget at 12.32 PM. While Kumaraswamy accused the BJP of poaching by releasing an audio clip, BJP president Yeddyurappa termed it fake.
Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy is set to present the Karnataka Budget by noon today after the scheduled legislative party meetings by the Congress, JD(S) and the BJP.
Before the budget, Kumaraswamy addressed an emergency press conference at his official residence in Bengaluru.
The chief minister said, "I had not reacted to any developments in the last two days. I regret the inconvenience caused to you with this emergency press meet. I still recall the PM bowing his head to the steps of the Parliament calling it a temple of democracy."
The Governor of this state wanted to give a speech, but the BJP didn't allow it. "They alleged that my government doesn't have the majority," Kumaraswamy added.
"If Yeddyurappa has information that our government doesn't have the majority, why won't they instead move a no confidence motion rather than storm into the well of the house to protest?" Kumaraswamy questions.
The house must approve the budget for the benefit of the 6 crore citizens of the state, Kumaraswamy said. "What is the message Yeddyurappa wants to give to the people by disrupting the house? In 2006-07, a BJP MLA alleged that I took Rs 150 crore. I have not forgotten how they tried to finish my career," the chief minister said.
Kumaraswamy alleged that Yeddyurappa went to Devdurga (about 482 km from Bengaluru) attempted to woo JD(S) MLA Naganagouda's son Sharanagouda Kandkur. "I will place before you the voice clip of Yeddyurappa. At 2 am, he called someone to Devdurga. There was a media person there as well. This kind of politics was started by Yeddyurappa in 2008. It is in his DNA. I appeal to the BJP, this is not our budget it is the livelihood of the people, don't play with that," he added.
Kumaraswamy said that he would be writing a letter to the speaker highlighting the disrepute brought to him and his office. "It is left to the Speaker's wisdom what he would like to do. We are placing the tapes in public. We will send it directly to the Prime Minister. Let him decide what he wants to do," Kumaraswamy said.
Karnataka's BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa said the audio released by the chief minister is fake. "Kumaraswamy himself is a film producer. He is an expert in voice recording.... whatever the charge he has made is baseless," Yeddyurappa said. He also accused Kumaraswamy of trying buy a BJP MLA. Yeddyurappa said it is the duty of the coalition government to keep its flock together and that BJP has nothing to do with it.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.