From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 12: Sharply reacting to BJP national general secretary C T Ravi’s statement asking the State Congress party to start Indira Canteen and Hukka Bar in the party office, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D K Shivakumar on Thursday said asking a national opposition party, which had ruled the country and fought for India’s freedom, to start a Hukka Bar shows the person’s culture and upbringing.
Talking to reporters outside the residence of Congress Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is celebrating his 75th birthday on Thursday, Shivakumar said C T Ravi, who had served as State’s Kannada and Culture Minister, is known for making crass remarks and the comments against Indira Canteen depicted his culture and that of BJP.
“Entire BJP is no match to the sacrifices, service and contribution of the Nehru family for the freedom and progress of the country. The national ruling party’s general secretary C T Ravi’s attempt’s to tarnish the Nehru family depicted the standard and culture of BJP,’’ he said.
The KPCC Chief said C T Ravi and BJP leaders are known for their mudslinging and constant attempts to tarnish the image of Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as part of its strategy to create ill-will against the Nehru family.
“Nehru family has donated its lands for the country and sacrificed a lot. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have laid their lives for the country. Sonia Gandhi was asked to become the Prime Minister and form the government twice by former President Dr Abul Kalam. But she renounced it in favour of Dr Man Mohan Singh because she felt he was the best choice to lead the country,’’ he said and asked C T Ravi to find out who suggested naming the Indira Canteen.
He pointed out that his party’s ministers in the present government and legislators had suggested and have even written a letter, and the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accepted the suggestion. “Let C T Ravi, the national general secretary of BJP and former State Cabinet Minister find out the truth,’’ he said.
The State Congress President said the State Government must go ahead with the Mekedatu project for brining drinking water to Bengaluru. "Our party will fully support to project even though the project passes through my assembly constituency of Kanakapura, which does not get even a drop of water. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who had handled the Water Resources portfolio, has made it clear that Mekedatu is a drinking water project and the State is well within its right to utilize the water. We will support the government,’’ he declared.
Shivakumar said the State and the party needs the service and experience of Siddaramaiah and wished him good health and success.
KPCC Working President Saleem Ahmed, B Ramalinga Reddy, Dhruvanarayan and former minister C Krishna Byre Gowda accompanied Shivakumar.