Priyank Kharge Dares H D Kumaraswamy to Prove Claim About Kharge's Meeting With PM Modi

The war of words between Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy has escalated further, with Kharge daring his rival to prove a claim about a meeting between his father, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The challenge was made in Kalaburagi on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

The Claim and the Challenge

Kumaraswamy had alleged that Mallikarjun Kharge visited the Prime Minister's residence to discuss a case filed against the Siddhartha Trust, an entity involving members of the Kharge family. Speaking to reporters, Priyank Kharge asked Kumaraswamy to prove the claim. He said that he has never made a statement without evidence and asked whether he had ever crossed the line in his speech. The allegation, which has not been supported by any documents in the reports, was made after Kumaraswamy hit back at Kharge over a remark that the Union minister could be questioned in connection with the sting operation row if necessary.

The Counterattack

Kharge did not stop at denying the claim. He said that it was Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy's father and the JD(S) patriarch, who visited Modi's residence to secure a ministerial post for his son, and not the Kharge family. He added that this type of behaviour does not look good for Kumaraswamy's own family. The remark was aimed at turning the allegation back on the Union minister and highlighted the personal nature of the exchange between the two leaders.

Evidence to the Police or Courts

Kharge also repeated his demand that Kumaraswamy submit any evidence he has to the investigating agencies instead of making allegations in public. He said it was not appropriate to draw conclusions about an ongoing investigation from the outside and advised the Union minister to submit any relevant documents to the Director General of Police. He said that if Kumaraswamy does not have faith in the state government, he can submit the documents to a court and prove the truth. Kharge said that a proper investigation into the alleged sting operation was under way and that legal action would follow based on its findings.

Background: The Sting Operation Row

The exchange is part of the larger political battle over a purported sting operation involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Kumaraswamy has alleged that Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and a journalist conspired to carry out the operation to force Siddaramaiah out of office, and he has demanded the arrest of those he names and a probe by a Special Investigation Team. Siddaramaiah has denied any wrongdoing and described the video as a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation. The state government has rejected the idea of a CBI inquiry and says that its own investigators are looking into the matter.

Escalating Personal Attacks

The tone of the debate has become sharply personal in recent days. Earlier in the week, Kharge had challenged Kumaraswamy to provide documentary evidence and warned that he would not remain silent if personal attacks continued. On Friday, Kumaraswamy responded by questioning why Mallikarjun Kharge had approached the Prime Minister over the trust issue and asking whether the Home Minister would answer the question, adding that the day to teach a lesson to what he called arrogance was not far away. Political observers say that such remarks risk overshadowing the substantive questions about the investigation.

What Comes Next

The allegations about the trust and any meetings with the Prime Minister are likely to be examined if the parties choose to pursue them through legal channels. For now, they remain statements in a political duel. Citizens and observers will be watching to see whether either side produces evidence to back its claims, and whether the sting operation investigation yields results that can settle the central questions.

This report is based on published news coverage and statements attributed to the leaders involved. The allegations have not been independently verified.