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In a series of tweets in Kannada, Sudhakar said that at first, he regrets making any statement that was deemed as hurting anyone’s sentiments. “I respect all my legislator friends and I do honor their integrity. I did not say anything with an intent to hurt my legislator friends,” he said.
“I was deeply hurt by the Congress party’s attitude towards us (six ministers). My intent in making such a statement was to tell them that they should also ‘do some soul searching job’ before targeting anyone. However, this seems to have gone beyond one’s understanding. I only request those who are translating or interpreting my statement in a literal sense to do some soul searching before commenting on others,” he said in a tweet.
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Sudhakar on Wednesday, March 24 had said “To those opposition leaders from the Congress and JD(S) who are projecting themselves as Maryada Purushas and Sri Ramachandras, I want to throw a challenge. Let all 225 (MLAs) face an inquiry. Let it be proved who has had illicit relationships or not, including me,” Mr
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, “Everybody’s character will be known. Who did what when they were Chief Ministers. Let everything be inquired. Anyway, this is a question of morality and values, right? Let it involve everyone – ministers, MLAs, opposition leaders.”
Taking the names of Opposition Leader Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar, former chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, Mr Sudhakar said, “If their conscience is right, let them agree to this proposal and face inquiry.”
“They all are Satya Harishchandras. KR Ramesh Kumar, V Muniyappa (Congress leaders), Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy. They’re following monogamy, right? Let them agree to this (challenge). Let there be inquiry on all 225, people will know the truth. I’m ready for this, he added.
Mr Sudhakar’s statement was in response to the Congress’s demand for the resignation of six ministers, including him, on moral grounds and for getting injunction from the court against the publication or broadcast of any unverified news about them.
The other five ministers are: Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar, Agriculture Minister BC Patil, Cooperation Minister ST Somashekar, Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister Narayana Gowda, and Urban Development Minister Bhyrathi Basavaraj.
They had approached the court for injunction after one of their colleagues Ramesh Jarkiholi resigned earlier this month amid allegations of sexual harassment after the emergence of a purported sex video involving him. He has termed it a fake.