Audio clip row: K'taka Assembly speaker compares himself to a rape victim

Karnataka Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar on Tuesday compared himself to a rape victim after state chief minister HD Kumaraswamy released an audio clip that allegedly contains bribery charges against him.

The controversial audio clip allegedly contains a conversation between BJP's state president Yeddyurappa and JD(S) MLA Nagangouda Kandkur's son Sharanagouda. In the clip it had been alleged that MLAs could resign without any fear because speaker Ramesh Kumar had been paid Rs 50 crore.

"My situation is like that of a rape victim. When you complain that rape has happened, accused is put in jail. But his lawyers ask how did it happen? When did it happen and how many times? Rape happens once but you get raped a 100 times in the court. This is my condition," he said in the state assembly.

Kumar today ordered Kumaraswamy to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the audio clip incident. He has directed that the probe in the connection should be finished within 15 days.

Just a few hours before presenting the state budget in the Karnataka Assembly on Friday, Kumaraswamy had held a press conference and told media persons about the audio clip while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi of horse-trading.

Also, Congress members, including United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, staged a walk-out from the Parliament, after an adjournment right at the beginning of the question hour.