HDK adds fuel to bribery row
Former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday added a new twist to the raging debate over corruption in defence deals with his claim that he was offered a bribe when his father H.D. Deve Gowda was Prime Minister in 1996 heading the United Front government.
Mr Kumaraswamy, however, did not provide any evidence to support his claim. The revelation could add more fuel to the controversy following Army Chief General V.K. Singh’s claim that he was offered `14 crore as kickback in a defence deal.
The JD(S) state president came up with the stunning disclosure when his reaction was sought to the alleged involvement of his trusted lieutenant Zameer Ahmed Khan in the waqf property encroachment scam. A question was also posed to him on the Army chief’s claim on which he shot back, “This is not something new. I have told you about my experience several times. The famous jeep scandal happened during late Krishna Menon’s time (former defence minister). Ever since then, this has been going on. To cover up the bribery issue, some people in Delhi leaked General Singh’s secret letter to the Prime Minister on the preparedness of the Army.”
When asked to reveal details on the amount offered and the month or date when the agent approached him, Mr Kumaraswamy told reporters, “How can you expect me to remember the details. I was a first time MP (from Kanakapura) then. And I did not know anything about Delhi politics. When this gentleman approached me, I did not know what he was telling me. Now, I do not remember who he was nor can I recollect his characteristics”.
Asked why he had come up with the disclosure 16 years after it happened, Mr Kumaraswamy said the Army chief’s revelations were the reason.
Later, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda told reporters that this issue had not been brought to his notice by his son.
“I do not know about this because it was not brought to my notice,” he said.
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