I do not even have govt accomodation or a large house: Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar

BENGALURU: The high drama in the legislature saw the speaker K R Ramesh Kumar become highly emotional at one point and recall his “humble” background from where he grew to reach where he was now.
Reiterating his clean track record, Kumar said the audio tapes alleging he had taken Rs 50 crore was hurting his image in public.
“I invite the media and the MLAs to go and visit my rented accommodation in Bengaluru.I am residing in a small house in Amarjyothi Layout in Domlur. I do not even have a name plate put up in front of my house so as to ensure that the neighbourhood is not inconvenienced. Now, if I have taken the money where do I have the space to store such a large sum?” retorted Kumar.
Recalling his family background, Kumar said he was the youngest of the eight siblings and that his biggest political mentor and teacher was his mother.
“My mother used to ask me that I should wash my feet before entering our home if I had gone to someone’s home, so that even the dust from the other person’s home should not accompany me to mine. I have followed the principle for the last 28 years and have maintained to that,” he said, breaking down in the chair.
Kumar referred to his first term as a Speaker, when at the age of 43 years he was made the custodian of the legislative assembly.
“Back then, the then chief minister H D Deve Gowda had called me to his chamber and said he wanted someone he could trust in the chair and thus could not make him a minister in his cabinet. Yesterday, when I met him again, I recalled the same incident. Today, when I am instilled in this chair unopposed, is this the punishment I have to face?” he questioned.
Earlier, while referring to the entire debate on character assassination, the members referred to Ramayana and Caser’s stories of doubts cast on Sita and the Caser’s wife suggesting that it was always difficult to prove a person’s innocence without a proper investigation.
To this, Kumar responded and said: “Let us first finish the Ramesh Kumarayana and then talk of Ramayana and Sita.”