Kumaraswamy ready to take narco test to expose CM

Going a step further after agreeing to swear before god, Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said he was ready to undergo a narco analysis test to prove his claim that Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa through an aide tried to strike a 'compromise' with him.

"I am ready to face any inquiry. I am even prepared to undergo the truth serum test," he told reporters in Bengaluru. Kumaraswamy has already accepted Yeddyurappa's gauntlet to 'swear' before Lord Manjunatha, presiding deity of the famous temple in Dharmasthala, on June 27 over his charge.

The JDS leader said he had accepted the challenge to come clean before the people. "Had I not accepted the challenge, people would have suspected my integrity", he said defending his decision to testify before the lord, which has evoked criticisms from various quarters.

"Lehar Singh, a confidante of Yeddyurappa has already confessed to the media that he did meet me in Bengaluru and Delhi. All Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are aware of the functions assigned to Lehar Singh by Yeddyurappa", he said.

Kumaraswamy, who has been hurling a series of allegations of corruption and nepotism against Yeddyurappa, claimed he was not indulging in mudslinging and only spoke the truth. Sources close to Kumaraswamy said the former chief minister has sent a letter to the Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade explaining him of the compulsions that drove him to accept Yeddyurappa's challenge.

"Yeddyurappa is mixing dharma with politics. Now I seek your guidance. I will obey whatever direction you give me on this", he said in his letter delivered to Heggade Monday morning at Dharmasthala in Dhakshnia Kannada district.