Political Jabs Fly as Karnataka Minister Defends Knowledge Kumar’s Status

During a press conference in Bangalore on August 28, Karnataka Home Minister Prayan Kharage pushed back against Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumar Swami’s allegations concerning IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar, who is linked to the KCPSC recruitment process.

Kharage clarified that he possesses concrete information about the officer’s location and dismissed any expectation that he should brief either the BJP or JD(S) on the matter. He emphasized that the officer had formally applied for leave, and that leave paperwork exists. “If an officer follows protocol, we should trust his request until proven otherwise,” he said, adding that an inquiry will be launched when the officer returns.

The dialogue quickly shifted to partisan criticism. Kharage accused the BJP and JD(S) of exploiting the controversy to retain relevance, noting, “The BJP needed me for months; now JD(S) wants to cling to my name for political survival.” He also recalled his previous condemnation of the RSS, asking whether the parties had forgotten his description of the group as a “venomous snake.”

Further, Kharage questioned the Union minister on what the centre has actually delivered for Karnataka, especially in light of the KCPSC scandal. He alluded to unverified allegations that former KCPSC chairman Shivshankara Sahu had paid Rs 200 crore to secure his position, and asked about photographs of former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa and B.Y. Vijayendra at Sahu’s residence.

Concluding, Kharage labelled the attacks as political opportunism, asserting that such tactics only serve personal ambition rather than public interest.