Bengaluru: In a fresh twist to the political storm over sting operations in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar has made a sensational claim.
In an interview with a Kannada broadcaster, the Chief Minister of Karnataka alleged that a sting operation was attempted on him and Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan. He pointed out that Congress leaders, and not on any BJP or its NDA-allied CM, were the target of sting operation.
Shivakumar aka DKS claimed that his suspicions were raised when an industrialist came to meet him wearing Meta smart glasses, prompting him to seek information about the visitor’s movements and meetings with other political leaders.
The allegations came amid an escalating row over purported sting-operation videos linked to former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, as Congress and Opposition parties traded charges over who was behind these, and its political purpose.
Asked why action had not been taken against those who allegedly tried to trap him, DKS said the authorities won’t disclose details.
“Who said action wasn’t sought? You just don’t know, that’s all. We are not disclosing it, that’s all. We have taken all precautionary measures,” DKS said in an interview with Asianet Suvarna News.
The Karnataka CM said the industrialist had discussed business with him at first. The conversation then shifted to politics as the visitor spoke about booth-level strategies and political developments.
The change in conversation, and the glasses that the visitor wore made DKS suspicious. “I asked my officials to conduct a small enquiry on the background of the industrialist,” he said.
As per the information he received, the visitor had worn the same Meta glasses during a meeting with Kerala CM Satheesan, but not while calling on Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and a Union minister.
“He wore the Meta glasses only when he came to me and (VD) Satheesan,” Shivakumar claimed.
Without identifying the visitor or providing evidence of the alleged recording attempt during the interview, DKS said he had received information about people who could be involved and warned his Cabinet colleagues to be careful about attempts to entrap them.
“As the head of the government, which is like a family, I have to tell the Cabinet ministers to be conscious and not get fooled,” the Karnataka CM said.
“I have kept records… When the time comes, I will say what has to be said. This is not the time to speak,” he stated.
