Karnataka BJP Chief Questions CM Shivakumar Over Ramesh Jarkiholi Sting Operation

Speaking to reporters in Bagalkot, Vijayendra asked who conducted the operation against Jarkiholi, who allegedly provided protection to those involved and which lawyer represented them. He also questioned whether a lawyer associated with the case was later appointed as an Additional Advocate General.

“Who conducted the sting operation on Ramesh Jarkiholi? Who secured and protected those involved? Which advocate argued in their favour, and which advocate was subsequently appointed as Additional Advocate General? The people of the state know all this,” Vijayendra said.

Jarkiholi, a prominent BJP leader from North Karnataka, had resigned as a minister during the previous BJP government after an alleged personal video involving him was leaked.

Vijayendra's remarks came in response to Shivakumar's recent statements about alleged attempts to conduct sting operations against Congress ministers and leaders. The BJP state chief said that if the Chief Minister was raising the issue of sting operations, he should also explain the circumstances surrounding the earlier case involving Jarkiholi.

Vijayendra alleged that the political reputation for conducting sting operations, conspiring against opponents and using what he described as low-level political tactics belonged to those currently in power in Karnataka.

“If you want the name, ask the Congress MLAs. They themselves will reveal the name,” he said.

He also questioned whether Congress legislators themselves could be targeted by sting operations and made an indirect reference to political developments within the ruling party.

“Who is the leader who conducted sting operations and ‘ding ding’ operations on their own MLAs and secured the post of Chief Minister? If anyone asks the Congress MLAs, they will tell you who it is,” Vijayendra said.

The BJP leader further questioned whether Shivakumar had already obtained recordings involving Congress ministers and was therefore raising the issue publicly.

BJP MLA S.R. Vishwanath also criticised the Chief Minister's remarks, saying that a person holding the office of Chief Minister should maintain dignity in public statements.

“Being a Chief Minister, one needs to speak in a dignified manner. The people of the state very well know who was involved in sting operations before D.K. Shivakumar became the Chief Minister,” Vishwanath said in Bengaluru.

Vishwanath said political leaders and others were likely to become more cautious and take additional precautions amid the controversy surrounding alleged sting operations.

He also questioned whether Shivakumar had already arranged for sting operations against ministers and suggested that his remarks could have been intended to pre-empt criticism if videos emerged in the future. This was an allegation by Vishwanath.

Vishwanath further accused the state government of diverting public attention from issues affecting Karnataka. He cited drought conditions, inflation and allegations concerning the NICE project, and alleged that raising issues such as sting operations and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was an attempt to shift the focus of the public.

The BJP leaders' comments come amid an ongoing political confrontation between the ruling Congress and the BJP over allegations of sting operations targeting political leaders and the wider dispute surrounding the SIR exercise.

The allegations exchanged by the two sides have not been independently established in the information available.