Never Expected This From Him: Yeddyurappa on Kumaraswamy's 'Kill Them Mercilessly' Remark

Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa on Monday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy over the latter’s remarks on avenging the murder of Janata Dal Secular party (JDS) leader Prakash.

“I never expected this from the chief minister. If he speaks like this, what will happen to the law and order situation? An irresponsible and nonsense statement by Kumaraswamy,” Yeddyurappa said.

Kumaraswamy landed in a row on Sunday after he was caught on tape, instructing someone to avenge the killing of Prakash.

In a video released by ANI on Monday evening, Kumaraswamy was heard saying: “He (murdered JDS leader Prakash) was a good man, I don’t know why did they murder him. Kill them (assailants) mercilessly in a shootout, no problem.”

However, as the video went viral, the chief minister clarified that it was an emotional outburst and ‘not an order’.

"It (killing assailants mercilessly) was not my order. I was emotional at that moment. They (killers) are the reason for two murders and they were in jail," Kumaraswamy told ANI. “They came out on bail two days ago and killed another person (JDS leader Prakash), this is how they are misusing bail,” he added.

Victim Honnalagere Prakash, a district-level party member of the JD(S), was travelling in his car on Mysuru Road when four bike-borne assailants chased him at the highway on Maddur. The men opened the car’s back door, where Prakash was sitting and attacked him. Initial reports said Prakash was alive after the attack but succumbed to his injuries later.