From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 13: Continuing the war of words over the insult to JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda during the unveiling of the 108 ft bronze statue of Bengaluru founder Kempe Gowda by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bengaluru on Friday, JD(S) legislature party leader H D Kumaraswamy has now sought to drag the State Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma to clarify on the violation of the official protocol.

The former Chief Minister took exception to the ruling BJP issuing a statement clarifying that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has spoken to Deve Gowda telephone on November 10 night, a day before Modi’s function, and sending a letter that reached well past midnight, and said Bommai must himself clarify or the Chief Secretary should explain the actual position over flouting of the protocol.

The statement issued by the ruling BJP leaders to the objection raised by JD(S) on the insult to Deve Gowda by not following the official protocol is totally unacceptable, Kumaraswamy said and demanded that either the Chief Minister or the Chief Secretary must come out with the real situation.

The JD(S) leader lashed out at the ruling BJP for turning the unveiling of the statue of Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru, into a BJP function or one sponsored by the RSS headquarters in Bengaluru, Keshavakrupa and termed it as Goebbels ploy.

``The JD(S) has never used H D Deve Gowda in caste politics. But Prime Minister Modi’s half a day programme in the city is nothing but an attempt to win over the Vokkaliga community,’’ Kumaraswamy said and warned that the people and the community will not fall a prey to such gimmicks.

Kumaraswamy said the ruling BJP is devoid of any popular support and has no existence in the State but for Modi’s image and popularity. ``Let us see how many times, Modi visits Karnataka before the assembly elections in the next six months,’’ he said pointing out that most of the BJP candidates will lose deposits without the support of Modi.

Attacking BJP for criticising JD(S) as the party is facing ``existential crisis,’’ the JD(S) leader said BJP is nothing without Modi’s image and popularity. ``Can BJP win without Modi,’’ he asked.

Kumaraswmy said BJP’s criticism that the JD(S) is unable to stomach the rise of Vokkaliga leaders in the saffron party proved that the unveiling of Kempe Gowda statue was nothing but an attempt invoke caste politics. ``Religion, caste, food, dress are issues that BJP thrives on as it has nothing else to speak for itself,’’ he said.