Kumaraswamy warns Karnataka police: Don't lose public trust
Synopsis
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy used a Bengaluru press conference to mount a sweeping attack on Karnataka's Congress government — alleging a ₹40,000 crore excise scandal, ₹38,000 crore in unpaid contractor dues, diverted murder investigations, and neglect of a ₹4,500 crore lake-filling project he had approved in 2006–07. The broadside signals a sharpening BJP-JD(S) opposition offensive in the state.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy cautioned Karnataka police on 3 November 2026 against losing public trust amid alleged law-and-order failures.
He alleged a ₹40,000 crore extortion racket in the state's Excise Department and controversies over Waqf Board properties.
Kumaraswamy claimed the state owes contractors nearly ₹38,000 crore for completed works, citing a deteriorating fiscal position.
He alleged the Home and Intelligence Departments diverted investigations into murder cases reported across the state.
On the Hiriyur Assembly bye-election, he confirmed NDA alliance discussions with Kadugolla community leaders and BJP for a consensus candidate.
He demanded the state provide sugarcane farmers an additional support price of at least ₹750 per tonne .
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday, 3 November cautioned Karnataka police against eroding public confidence, alleging that citizens were closely monitoring developments under the Congress government in the state. Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy levelled a string of charges against the state administration, covering law and order, excise irregularities, Waqf Board disputes, and fiscal mismanagement.
Law and Order Allegations
'Police must ensure that they do not lose the trust of the people. The public is watching everything that is happening under the Congress government,' Kumaraswamy said. He alleged that the Home and Intelligence Departments had diverted the course of investigations into murder cases reported across the state, and accused the government of a complete failure to maintain law and order.
He further alleged that controversies surrounding Waqf Board properties and accusations of a ₹40,000 crore extortion racket in the Excise Department had raised serious questions about the functioning of the state administration.
Financial Condition and Project Neglect
Kumaraswamy alleged that Karnataka's financial condition had deteriorated sharply, with the state government reportedly owing contractors nearly ₹38,000 crore for works already completed. He criticised the administration for conducting foundation stone-laying ceremonies for new projects without securing financial approval or making budgetary allocations.
'No work gets completed, but it conducts foundation-laying ceremonies and gets free publicity. Starting projects without having funds and misleading people through such announcements has become a habit of the Congress party,' he alleged.
Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister during 2006–07, Kumaraswamy said his government had approved a project worth ₹4,500 crore to fill lakes in Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and Kolar districts — a project he alleged the present government had completely neglected.
Hiriyur Bye-Election and NDA Strategy
On the proposed bye-election to the Hiriyur Assembly constituency, Kumaraswamy said detailed discussions had been held with prominent leaders of the Kadugolla community and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders at the national level on fielding a consensus NDA candidate. He said the decision had been taken through mutual agreement and coordination among all concerned stakeholders.
Sugarcane Farmers' Demands
Kumaraswamy also addressed the ongoing protests by sugarcane farmers demanding a remunerative price for their produce, accusing the state government of turning a blind eye to their concerns. He claimed it was the state's responsibility to provide an additional support price of at least ₹750 per tonne of sugarcane.
Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party leader C.B. Suresh Babu, former MLAs Ningappa, Dr K. Annadani, and Doddangowda Patil, former Legislative Council member K.A. Thippe Swamy, Greater Bengaluru JD(S) president H.M. Ramesh Gowda, senior Tiptur leader Shanthakumar, and Kunigal constituency leader Jagadish were among those present at the press conference. The remarks signal a sustained opposition offensive against the Congress government ahead of future electoral contests in the state.
Point of View
000 crore in alleged excise irregularities and ₹38,000 crore in unpaid contractor dues are numbers large enough to resonate with voters and invite scrutiny. Whether these claims are backed by verifiable data, however, remains unanswered — the allegations were made without documentary evidence being placed before the public. The Hiriyur bye-election signal is worth watching: it suggests the BJP-JD(S) alliance is already in coordination mode, with community outreach underway, which could be an early indicator of state-level political realignment ahead of the next assembly cycle.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kumaraswamy allege against the Karnataka government?
Kumaraswamy alleged a ₹40,000 crore extortion racket in the Excise Department, irregularities in Waqf Board property matters, failure to maintain law and order, diversion of murder case investigations, and ₹38,000 crore in unpaid dues to contractors. He made these allegations at a press conference in Bengaluru on 3 November 2026.
Why did Kumaraswamy warn Karnataka police specifically?
He cautioned police against losing public confidence, alleging that the Home and Intelligence Departments had interfered in the course of murder investigations. He argued that public trust in the police was at risk due to what he described as political pressure from the Congress government.
What is the Hiriyur bye-election, and what did Kumaraswamy say about it?
The Hiriyur Assembly constituency in Karnataka is set for a bye-election. Kumaraswamy said discussions had been held with Kadugolla community leaders and BJP's national leadership to field a consensus NDA candidate, with the decision reached through mutual agreement among stakeholders.
What did Kumaraswamy say about sugarcane farmers?
He accused the Karnataka government of ignoring ongoing protests by sugarcane farmers demanding better prices for their produce. Kumaraswamy said the state had a responsibility to provide an additional support price of at least ₹750 per tonne of sugarcane.
What is the ₹4,500 crore lake project Kumaraswamy referenced?
Kumaraswamy said his government, during his 2006–07 tenure as Chief Minister, had approved a ₹4,500 crore project to fill lakes in Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and Kolar districts. He alleged the current Congress government had completely neglected this project.
