BackKnew BJP would create a story around national security to get votes: Kumaraswamy
BJP was misusing the income tax department to target the Opposition, says Karnataka chief ministerThe I-T department recently cracked down on contractors and engineers who had close associations with political leaders
PremiumBengaluru: Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday said he was aware that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would 'create' a story around national security to seek votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"A retired Army official had told me two years ago that a story would be created around tension between India-Pakistan to ask for votes before the next Lok Sabha elections," Kumaraswamy said during a public meeting in Chikmagaluru district, about 245 kilometres from Bengaluru.
Opposition parties have tried to corner the BJP for hiding behind the contribution of the armed forces to help garner votes.
Since the Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of 40 para military personnel, much of the political discussions have centred around national security.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that the BJP was misusing the income tax department to target the Opposition.
The I-T department recently cracked down on contractors and engineers who had close associations with political leaders, a move that several sitting ministers, including Kumaraswamy, had said was an attempt to silence the Opposition.
Premises belonging to a distant relative of Kumaraswamy was also raided as part of the I-T department's crackdown on black money used in the upcoming polls.
Rahul Gandhi-led Congress has been trying to consolidate the Opposition to take on the BJP, but it hasn't been easy. Its alliance partner in Karnataka, the Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S), has accused the Congress of trying to sabotage its chances in the upcoming elections. Kumaraswamy has said the Congress is trying to target his family and defeat his son, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is contesting from the Mandya parliamentary seat.
Several Congress leaders have refused to overcome its bitter past with the JD(S) and are backing Sumalatha Amarnath's (Sumalatha Ambareesh') candidature. Even the BJP has formally extended support to Sumalatha, making Nikhil's electoral debut a very difficult experience.
"She is an independent candidate only for namesake. She has the support from Congress, BJP and farmers union to defeat the JD(S)," Kumaraswamy said at a separate public event on Friday.
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