Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday said he was ready to retire from politics if his direct or indirect role in the alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities was proved.
“Those making allegations against me should speak with documents in hand. If there is evidence supporting the allegations, let there be an investigation and let the truth come out. he added, the probe should establish which officials took decisions at each stage rather than politically targeting an individual While an investigation and review are under way.
Kumaraswamy recently demanded Priyank ‘s resignation, alleging that he had allowed the recruitment of 24 Assistant Executive Engineers in the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department through the KPSC when he held the portfolio in the previous Siddaramaiah government.
But continuously making allegations without documents amounts to hit-and-run politics, and it has become a practice for Kumaraswamy,” Priyank said. Following objections to the selection lists of some candidates, the KPSC constituted a review committee, he said.
People won’t forget what stance those questioning the present issue had taken at the time,” he said. “During the previous BJP government, allegations had emerged regarding the PSI recruitment scam. The names of BJP leaders had surfaced in connection with the case. The minister urged investigating agencies to identify those actually responsible for the KPSC irregularities.
Pointing out that recruitment irregularities could affect the employment prospects and future of young people, he said BJP and JD(S) leaders should remember incidents from their own previous tenure in government. He said the roles of intermediaries, officials and anyone with political connections should be investigated, regardless of who they are. Priyank said the government would respond if Kumaraswamy made his allegations with supporting documents. Merely making allegations, getting them circulated in the media and then backing away without providing evidence was not responsible politics, he said.
