DCM has no role in honey trapping row, says MLC Yathindra

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Wednesday stated that the honey-trap controversy has reached the party high command. Speaking to reporters here he stated that this challenge is faced by leaders of all parties. Moreover, the BJP has no moral right to speak about such issues, he said and referred to an alleged incident during the tenure of the previous BJP government when about 17 BJP MLAs secured in junctions from the court fearing the release of sex CD videos.

Yathindra also dismissed the allegations against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar asserting that he has no role in this row. Referring to the delay in filing a case by senior minister K N Rajanna who raised the honey-trap issue during the budget session, Yathindra said that he did not know why the senior minister did not file the case. However, it is left to the discretion of senior ministers like Rajanna to file the case or not, he added.

On Rajanna's statement that his office did not have CCTVs installed, the MLC felt installation of CCTVs is required for residences of ministers to verify the records of visitors. Such CCTVs help to monitor visitors besides foiling people who visit these places with ill intentions, he said. Referring to the alleged remarks made by the DCM on changing the Constitution, Yathindra said that both Shivakumar and the CM have clarified on the issue. The Congress as a party which is always committed to the Constitution since its introduction, he added.