Kumaraswamy refuses to apologise for "shoot mercilessly" remark

Embroiled in a row over his 'shoot mercilessly' remarks, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday rejected the Opposition demand for an apology over his comments, saying he was an 'emotional person'.

Kumaraswamy landed in a raging controversy Tuesday after a video of his telephonic instruction to 'shoot mercilessly' those who had killed a Janata Dal-Secular worker in the party's stronghold of Mandya district on Monday went viral.

As the controversy refused to die down despite his clarification that it was an 'emotional outburst' and he did not mean it, Kumaraswamy said, "It is not a big issue... it is human tendency... in that sort of a situation any human being will react like that. I have already clarified it, that is why I changed the word also."

JD-S worker Prakash, a zilla panchayat member, was hacked to death, allegedly by four men in Maddur town on Monday evening, creating tension and infuriating Kumaraswamy, who told a police official 'he (Prakash) was a good person.

"There is no problem if you shoot such people mercilessly," alluding to the alleged killers.

Seven suspects have been booked for the killing of the JD-S worker, Additional Superintendent of Police Mandya District Balaramegowda told PTI, adding that old rivalry or a political motive may be behind the killing.

"We have not arrested anyone yet. Investigations are on. We have registered an FIR against seven suspects," he said.

He said the suspects have been booked under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

Claiming that he was an 'emotional' person, Kumarswamy told reporters, “Even if a single citizen is in trouble, I will involve myself...that issue is over according to me, that is why I said instead of encounter, I said smoke them out...that is my final word"

Hitting out at Kumaraswamy for his 'irresponsible' comments, state Bharatiya Janata party president and Leader of Opposition in the assembly B S Yeddyurappa demanded that he apologise to the people of the state.

Questioning BJP leaders about an incident where two farmers were allegedly shot dead by police during Yeddyurappa’s tenure as chief minister at Haveri in north Karnataka, Kumaraswamy questioned, "Was it not a big issue?"

To a question about the demand for an apology, he snapped back, “Why should I apologise?”

A human rights activist has, meanwhile, petitioned the State Human Rights Commission, terming the chief minister’s remarks as a “clear violation” of human rights.

The petitioner, T Narasimha Murthy, urged the Commission to issue notice to the chief minister seeking an explanation from him with immediate effect, “to examine the implications and impact of such emotional remarks on the police, judiciary and public,” and to issue appropriate direction to Kumaraswamy.

The plea said it hoped that the commission would examine the issue and direct the chief minister as executive head of the state to maintain decorum and also restore the law and spirit of the Constitution.