Givinga clean chit to former minister Ramesh Jarakiholi, Janata Dal (S) leader andformer Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday thatJarakiholi is innocent and none should stoop so low to make short term gains inpolitics.
Interactingwith mediapersons, Kumaraswamy said that there should be an end to such heinousblackmailing tactics.
"Thereis no doubt that for us (Gowda family), politics is the mainstay but one shouldnot stoop so low to tarnish a person in this manner. There are many methodsavailable in politics through which one can win over his rivals, but not inthis way," he said.
Takinga jibe at six ministers who had approached the court to secure an ex-parteorder to restrain media houses, Kumaraswamy said that if their (six ministers)conscience is clear, then why did they approach the court?
"Itis clear that someone makes such a move only when he knows that he can beblackmailed or someone might be blackmailing him already. I don't know who gavethis brilliant idea to them," he said.
Tryingto link the entire CD saga with the leaders' stay in Mumbai prior to thetoppling of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2019, Kumarswamy saidthat these ministers are part of 12 MLAs who had gone to Mumbai and stayedthere. "I do not know whether this entire episode is linked to their staythere," he said.
"Thesesix ministers securing court injunction shows that their conscience is notclear. It proves that they have approached the court in self doubt. In publiclife, one should not let his guard down," he said.