Karnataka Health Minister Sudhakar wants monogamy test for all MLAs

Karnataka’s Health Minister K Sudhakar on Wednesday created a political furore after he called for an investigation into the private lives of all 225 legislators to find out how many of them have had illicit or extra-marital relationships.

Sudhakar said this in response to the Congress’ demand that he and five other ministers should resign on moral grounds for having moved the court seeking an injunction against the publication or broadcast of defamatory, unverified news against them.

“Those projecting themselves as Maryada Purushas and Sri Ramachandras, I want to throw a challenge...Let all 225 MLAs face an inquiry. Let it be known who has had illicit relationships or extra-marital affairs. Everybody’s character will be known...who did what when they were chief ministers in their private lives. Anyway, this is a question of morality and values, right? I’m openly challenging them,” Sudhakar said.

He named Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) and others while throwing this challenge.

“They’re all Satya Harishchandras...KR Ramesh Kumar, V Muniyappa, Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy...they’re following monogamy strictly, right? Let them agree to this (challenge),” Sudhakar said.

Sudhakar’s statement drew sharp reactions. “I’m very happy. (Sudhakar) has given precious words to the state. We will discuss this in the Assembly,” Shivakumar said. “I have one wife and one family,” he added.

Kumaraswamy lashed out at Sudhakar saying the situation would not have arose if he and his ministerial colleagues had followed propriety. The former chief minister recalled that he had once “slipped” in his private life. “I admitted that in the Assembly,” he said.

“But the question is, these things wouldn’t have come up if you had behaved properly and if you hadn’t gone to court for an injunction. You created all these problems,” he said, adding that carnal matters should not be discussed in public. “Nobody is Satya Harishchandra.”

Sudhakar’s BJP colleague Narasimha Nayak (Rajugouda), who represents Shorapur, slammed the minister. “(Sudhakar) should withdraw his statement,” he said. “He should have taken specific names instead of speaking about all 224 MLAs. We’re elected representatives, so our statements should be careful.”