Kumaraswamy: Respect for CJI essential, Rahul Gandhi must mature

Bengaluru, 12 Oct – Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy told the Lok Sabha that involving the Chief Justice of India in partisan disputes is a breach of democratic conventions. He appealed to Rahul Gandhi to display greater political maturity. Kumaraswamy criticised the Congress for demanding a meeting with the CJI over election concerns, questioning whether the party appreciates the sanctity of constitutional posts. He defended the Special Incremental Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, noting that it is an established practice, not a novel political maneuver. The minister drew a parallel with Karnataka’s ongoing verification of welfare‑scheme beneficiaries, asking why the Congress opposes similar scrutiny of voter rolls. He urged political leaders to concentrate on citizens’ welfare, proper implementation of schemes, and the fundamental right to vote instead of turning these issues into political fireworks. He asked the Karnataka government to explain a 1.6‑2 million drop in beneficiaries of the Laxmi Housing, widow, disabled and senior pension schemes, and cited a report of ₹79 crore locked in accounts of deceased beneficiaries, stressing the need for verification to stop misuse of public funds. Kumaraswamy also lambasted Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for staging a grand photo‑session at Mysore Palace rather than addressing the sting‑operation controversy, likening the spectacle to a “royal throne” display. He closed by warning that the CJI must not be dragged into political battles and urged Rahul Gandhi to respect constitutional institutions.