From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 18: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar asked JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy to act and talk in a dignified manner as he has served as State’s Chief Minister twice besides being the State president of his party.
“Levelling baseless allegations every day on a regular basis does not suit his (Kumaraswamy’s) dignity,’’ he said while speaking to media persons near his residence on Saturday.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yatindra is a medical doctor by profession. He entered politics giving up his practice. After completing his first term, he sacrificed his Varuna seat for his father. We along with our party high command offered to make him an MLC. But he declined the offer displaying his dignity,’’ the KPCC chief said and mentioned that the party is grateful to him.
As the Chief Minister is busy with his official work, Dr Yatindra is looking after the Varuna assembly constituency represented by him earlier. He is serving as KDP member. He meets thousands of people in the constituency and works for them redressing their grievances by interacting with officials, Shivakumar said and explained that it is wrong to attribute motives and allege that the son is carrying out transfer work for money.
“We should be happy at such devoted and committed son. Levelling baseless allegations against Dr Yatindra is harmful to his image and hurts him,’’ he said and pointed out that Kumaraswamy as a father must understand this.
Shivakumar pointed out that JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, BJP leaders B S Yediyurappa, S M Krishna, D V Sadananda Gowda, Basavaraj Bommai and our own M Veerappa Moily have all been former chief ministers. “Are they speaking regularly like this (as Kumaraswamy),’’ he asked and suggested that the JDS leader should maintain some dignity in accordance with his stature.
He, however, declined to comment BJP new State President B Y Vijayendra and Kumaraswamy as both are partners in the NDA. “How can I comment on them when there internal problems in their own parties,’’ he asked.
The Deputy Chief Minister said Kumaraswamy has come up in politics due to the blessings of his parents and support from followers and he should act according to his stature. “It is useless if he continues speaking and hurling allegations from morning till night every day. I hope he mends his ways,’’ he said.
Replying to a question on Kumaraswamy’s challenge to produce documents and speak in the forthcoming Belagavi legislature session, Shivakumar said: “It is his right as a member to speak and raise issues in the house. How can I prevent that? Let his discharge his duties,’’ he said.
Shivakumar declined to comment on the suspension of former State JD(S) president C M Ibrahim by party’s national president H D Deve Gowda and said it is their party’s internal matter. I have no comments on that, he added.
He said there is no need to attribute political motives to JDS leader and MLA G T Deve Gowda meeting him and said he as well as MLAs from other parties meet him regularly on work pertaining to their constituencies.
“I am friendly with many JD(S) and BJP leaders. We meet, discuss and eat together. We are not enemies,’’ he said pointing out that Kumaraswamy had himself claimed that 40 Congress MLAs were in touch with BJP leaders. ``Is he a BJP spokesman to talk about BJP or has his party merged with BJP,’’ he asked.
Shivakumar congratulated BJP leader R Ashok being chosen as BJP opposition leader and wished him all the best. “He is a senior leader and got elected seven times. He is holding a constitutional post as opposition leader. I am happy that BJP has finally chosen its opposition leader seven months after the elections,’’ he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister extended his greetings and best wishes to Team India to win in the ICC ODI cricket world cup.