Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Sep 13: Independent MLA from Kolar and former chairman of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KUWSSB), Varthur Prakash, who joined the JDS recently, has hit out at his mentor and opposition leader in the assembly, Siddaramaiah.
“Siddaramaiah is an opportunist. He should stop speaking about me with immediate effect. If he fails to do so, I will lay bare his misdeeds,” Prakash warned his one-time leader, of whom he took pride in claiming to be an ardent follower. Varthur was speaking at the Press Club here on Sunday September 12.
Contrary to his earlier statements, Prakash said, “Siddarmaiah was never my mentor, and I was never under his tutelage. He can never be my Guru. I have come up on my own, and I have gained nothing out of my association with him. In fact, Siddaramaiah has got all the help from me including financial one,” he claimed.
Prakash said he had sheltered Siddaramaiah after the leader deserted the JDS. He said he camped in Mysore for two months to ensure the victory of Siddaramaiah in the by election to Chamundeshwari constituency, just because of the fact that Siddu belongs to Kuruba caste. “Siddaramaiah should never have forgotten my help including monetary one, till his last breath. Now he is branding me as a petty politician having no sincerity. He must have forgotten about the crores of rupees I gave him. Siddaramaiah left JDS as he was lured by power. He has worked for the Congress candidate in Kadur constituency, while I have worked for the JDS candidate. The results will tell who is petty,” he fumed.
Prakash said he had hung Siddaramaiah’s photograph in a prominent position in his home, instead his own father’s. He recollected that he had to sacrifice the chairmanship of KUWSSB because of his support to Siddarmaiah. He accused his one-time mentor, of not acknowledging these sacrifices and trying to politically finish off the former’s political career. He accused Siddu’s son and his friends of making threatening calls to him and his associates, and asked the concerned to stop these tactics.