Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday, 16 October alleged that the Congress-led Karnataka government was channelling taxpayers' money to fund protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi, calling it a direct act of destabilising the country. The allegations were made in Bengaluru ahead of an interaction with Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) aspirants, unemployed candidates, and students at the Bunts' Association in Vijayanagar.

What Kumaraswamy Alleged

Kumaraswamy squarely targeted State Home Minister Priyank Kharge, claiming that Kharge's remarks on Thursday had amounted to an indirect admission that the Congress was extending support to the New Delhi protests. He alleged that Kharge had equated the Congress with the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and had suggested that no legal action would be taken against the latter over the agitation.

'Is there one law for them and another for everyone else?' Kumaraswamy asked, questioning the propriety of a cabinet minister making such a statement given the 'sensitive situation in the country.'

Public Money Allegation

The Union Minister alleged that public funds from Karnataka, including taxpayers' money, were being routed to those participating in the protests in Delhi. He accused the state government of a double standard — registering cases against Opposition workers in Karnataka for social media posts, while allegedly providing financial support to protesters in another state.

Addressing Kharge directly, Kumaraswamy played a video of the Home Minister's remarks to reporters and demanded accountability. 'Where is the money for the CJP's activities coming from? Who is funding the protests led by Rahul Gandhi? Priyank Kharge, the son of the AICC President and Karnataka's Home Minister, must clarify this,' he said.

Criticism of Chief Minister Shivakumar

Kumaraswamy also trained his guns on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, accusing him of repeatedly deflecting scrutiny with remarks about time revealing the truth. 'Time will certainly reveal everything, including these alleged conspiracies and anti-national activities,' Kumaraswamy claimed.

Context: KPSC Recruitment Row

Kumaraswamy's visit to Bengaluru was primarily to address grievances of KPSC aspirants and candidates who alleged they had been denied jobs due to irregularities in the recruitment process. This comes amid a broader political battle between the Janata Dal (Secular)-BJP combine and the ruling Congress in Karnataka, with the Opposition sharpening its attacks on multiple fronts — from welfare fund misuse to alleged administrative lapses. The accusations around protest funding add a national security dimension to what has largely been a state-level political contest.

Karnataka's ruling Congress has not yet issued a formal response to the specific allegations made on Friday. Whether Kharge clarifies his earlier remarks will be closely watched in the days ahead.