Kumaraswamy clarifies on ticket to 'criminals'

Speaking to reporters during the BBMP election campaign at Nandini Layout, he said there is a huge difference between an accused person and a criminal. “Neither my party nor myself is in favour of issuing tickets to criminals. However, there are innocent and poor people who are falsely implicated. There is no harm in allowing such people to contest the elections,” he stated.

It is unfortunate that nobody talks about criminals who are occupying the highest positions in public life. There are influential people who are directly involved in murders, but they have ensured that all evidences against them are destroyed. People who are vociferous against criminalisation of politics, do not mind sharing dais with criminals in public functions. But they do not tolerate a poor, who is only accused of criminal charges, contesting the elections, the former CM said.

Asked about the JD(S) issuing ticket Divan Ali, who has around 15 criminal cases against him, from Banashankari temple ward, Kumaraswamy said Ali is an innocent person. Of the 15 cases, he has already come clean in 11. Just because Ali belongs to the minority community, he has been targeted, he stated.