Kharge offers to quit politics if evidence of KPSC scam role emerges

Kharge challenges Kumaraswamy over KPSC recruitment allegations

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday challenged Union Minister D. Kumaraswamy to produce evidence linking him to the alleged Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam, offering to quit politics if even "an iota of evidence" establishes his involvement.

The alleged scam relates to irregularities in a test for the appointment of Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE) under the Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme. Kharge said he was willing to forgo politics entirely if his involvement was proven.

"If my involvement is proven, I am ready to forgo politics entirely. Even my family will not come (to politics)," Kharge told reporters, according to The News Minute and The Hindu.

Kharge also challenged Kumaraswamy to retire from politics if any involvement of the BJP or JD(S) was established in the case.

Kumaraswamy's allegations

Kumaraswamy, who is Union Minister for Industries, has alleged that Kharge was complicit in the alleged recruitment scam when he headed the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department under the Siddaramaiah government. The allegations include candidates being kept at resorts, question papers being provided in advance, and OMR sheets being manipulated.

Kharge responded by saying the allegations should be backed by documents. He pointed out that two FIRs had already been registered and said a transparent investigation should be allowed to proceed.

"If your words carry weight, provide documents. We will get a transparent investigation since there are already two FIRs. We will not spare anyone. It is unbecoming of your stature to make allegations without documents," he said.

Kumaraswamy, for his part, said he was not seeking Kharge's retirement from politics but a transparent investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities. He said he had provided documents and wanted a transparent investigation.

Kharge's counter-arguments

Questioning the basis of the allegations, Kharge said the KPSC, rather than the government, was responsible for the examination process and custody of the OMR sheets.

"The allegation is about answers in OMR sheets being rewritten. Who has the custody of the OMR sheet? KPSC is responsible for it. Every decision was taken by the KPSC," he said.

Kharge detailed that the KPSC had initially constituted a three-member committee to inquire into the alleged irregularities, which was later disbanded before a five-member committee was set up. He said the five-member committee submitted its report a day after the RDPR Department issued conditional appointment orders. The KPSC did not share the findings of the inquiry, and the report blamed the examination wing, not the government, he added. Kharge also noted that the KPSC had the power to cancel the list.

He questioned why Kumaraswamy was silent on suspended KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, who was appointed by former Chief Minister S. Yediyurappa. Kharge also suspected that the launch of investigation by the Enforcement Directorate was to protect BJP personalities, as reported by The Hindu.