Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Credit: DH Photo
Madikeri: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar questioned the controversy surrounding the honey-trap case, and said "Do people randomly come to honeytrap you? If you say hello, they say hello back. If you don’t respond, does someone force you to talk?"
When asked by reporters at Bhagamandala whether 48 MLAs had fallen into a honeytrap and whether ministers in the government lacked protection, he countered and asked "Who said there is no protection?"
Comparing the incident to a hit-and-run case, Shivakumar said "I had advised that a complaint be filed with the police on Thursday itself. There should be no delay in taking action, and I too insist on a speedy investigation."
When asked about BJP MLA Muniratna’s allegation that Shivakumar’s team was behind the honeytrap, he responded sarcastically and said “Isn’t everything recorded in the police complaint about what happened in Vidhana Soudha? Didn’t BJP leaders themselves discuss what happened to R Ashoka and BS Yediyurappa? They have shared their pain.”
He urged people to remain calm and avoid any protests or bandhs, emphasising that peace should be maintained.