Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has reacted strongly to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's allegations regarding his assets. He clarified that all his assets were acquired legally and that he had disclosed all the details to the Income Tax Department. Speaking to the media in New Delhi on Tuesday, he launched a counterattack on Kumaraswamy.

"Yes, as per the current market value, I have assets worth Rs 1,400 crore. I acquired them all within the legal framework. Kumaraswamy is speaking like this out of frustration and desperation," Shivakumar said. He alleged that the internal differences in the BJP-JDS alliance were the reason for Kumaraswamy's impatience.

Shivakumar confronted Kumaraswamy on the NICE project. "His father H.D. Deve Gowda signed the project agreement. Kumaraswamy also served as the Chief Minister. Why is he silent on this matter then? He tried to get a tender awarded to a person named Gandhi and even ate nuts with the court. Many transactions were done in benami names. I don't want to name names like him," he criticized.

Shivakumar questioned whether he, as the son of a farmer and an industrialist, was wrong in acquiring assets. "Shouldn't I have assets? Shouldn't my children buy assets? I have done everything as allowed by the law. Is Kumaraswamy any IT authority? If he has information, let him give it to the Income Tax Department," he challenged. Do Kumaraswamy and his family members have assets under the Bengaluru-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (Nice Road) and Bidadi Township projects? He questioned.

Shivakumar also dismissed the allegations that he invested Rs 5 crore in Shobha Developers and increased its value to Rs 2,000 crore. "I bought a plot of land for Rs 99,000 during the tenure of late former CM S. Bangarappa. Today, its value is Rs 20 crore. What is wrong in this? Did I take a bribe? Was I caught in any scam? Nothing like that happened. I have hundreds of such properties," he explained.

Responding to Kumaraswamy's challenge to come to the steps of Vidhan Soudha for a debate, he suggested that the debate should be held in the Assembly, and if desired, an open debate can be held at Freedom Park. Does Kumaraswamy have the guts to ask Prime Minister Modi to abolish tolls across the country?

"I am not afraid of comments, threats and sting operations that the allegations are only part 1. Will those who tapped Swamiji's phones release me? I was not afraid when he was the CM, will I be afraid now? They are unable to bear the popularity that is coming to our government. There is no cure for jealousy," said Shivakumar. He clarified that all the details of his assets are with the Election Commission and the ED and that he is ready to get any big agency to investigate.