I Am An Emotional Person, Says HD Kumaraswamy Over "Shoot Mercilessly" Controversy

A controversy sparked up after Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was caught in a video clip telling someone over the phone to “shoot mercilessly” the murderers of a party colleague. Kumaraswamy, while furnishing an explanation on December 26 said, “That isn’t a big issue, that’s human tendency, in that kind of situation, any human being will react like that, I have clarified it already, that’s why I changed the word also, I’m an emotional person.”

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy: That isn't a big issue,that's human tendency, in that kind of situation, any human being will react like that, I have clarified it already, that’s why I changed the word also, I’m an emotional person. pic.twitter.com/Qflm7sjCt9

— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018

Kumaraswamy’s clarification

In the video clip, Kumaraswamy seemed unaware that his conversation over the phone with a police officer was being recorded. After finding himself in the middle of the controversy, he has issued a clarification.

In the clip that went viral, the Opposition BJP seized on Kumaraswamy’s order to kill the assailants. His clarification came following this. “It was traumatic when I was told about the incident when I was at Bijapur helipad yesterday. In that traumatic situation I did say something to the authorities,” he said.

He further said that what he said over the phone was not an order to shoot anyone but that his emotions had got the better of him. He just asked the police to take strict action against the killers and ensure they do not get away with the crime.

What sparked the controversy

A local JDS leader, Honnalagere Prakash, was travelling on the Maddur highway when his car was stopped by four bike-borne men. According to police sources, the assailants forced the 50-year-old’s car door open, hacked him with machetes and fled, leaving him unconscious in his car. Prakash was rushed to the hospital but soon succumbed to his injuries.

Kumaraswamy was in Maddur to pay his respects to Prakash, where something he said landed him this controversy. Kumaraswamy can be seen in the video clip talking about Prakash and calling him a “good person”, reported The Telegraph.

“I don’t know who killed him and who killed him in this manner. Shoot them (the killers) mercilessly. There will be no issues,” Kumaraswamy is heard saying. He told reporters that it is beyond his imagination that a person like Prakash could be killed. “Our system is such that murder accused get bail citing liberty. That is very painful,” he further said.

Kumaraswamy slammed by the BJP

“It’s wrong to issue such orders,” party leader Jagadish Shettar said. He had no business urging police to kill anyone, he added.

State BJP chief B.S. Yeddyurappa called Kumaraswamy’s statement “irresponsible”, saying, “If he speaks like this, what will happen to the law and order situation?”

Refusing to be drawn into the controversy, the Congress, which shares power with the state’s JDS, said that it is the chief minister who will comment on it. Possibly because of health-related issues, Kumaraswamy has earlier lost control of his emotions and said that he might not live long. Last year, he had to replace his metal heart valve with a stronger and more advanced one.

Even if Kumaraswamy really did make the statement at the heat of the moment, it is totally unacceptable. Spreading any kind of violent messages is a shame and creates a blot on our law and order situation. The Logical Indian urges everyone, especially elected representatives to be responsible citizens and to keep themselves away from such acts.

Also Read: Mangaluru: 24-Yr-Old Youth Arrested For “Trolling” Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy On Facebook