From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 3: The verbal altercation, shouting and near miss physical clash involving KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar’s brother and Congress MP D K Suresh and State’s Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, who is also the Ramanagara district in-charge minister, at an official function in Ramanagara in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday is turning out to be a big political slugfest between opposition Congress and ruling BJP.

With both DK Suresh and Ashwath Narayan belonging to the politically powerful Vokkaliga community even though the JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy and their family are also considered quite powerful among the community in the Old Mysore Region. However, with DK Shivakumar-DK Suresh gaining importance especially with the Congress party’s campaign for the implementation of the Mekedatu, the opposition JD(S), which fared poorly in the recent Legislative Council and Urban Local body polls, seems to be completed isolated and virtually being edged out.

While DK Suresh has chosen to remain in the sidelines confining himself to Ramanagara and Bengaluru Rural districts, which is considered the family stronghold, it is his elder brother and State Congress President DK Shivakumar, Dr Ashwath Narayan and even the Chief Minister have decided to cross swords at each other. Obviously, the attempt seems to be aimed at scoring brownie points and winning over the Vokkaliga community’s support.

Dr Ashwath Narayan, who has hit media headlines with the issue by openly challenging the dominance of the DK Shivakumar-DK Suresh family and thereby try to emerge as the key BJP leader from the Vokkaliga community much to the chagrin of another BJP Vokkaliga leader and Revenue Minister R Ashok, has come out with a statement condemning the ``goondagiri’’ of Congress workers at the function organised by the Ramanagara district administration for inauguration of several developmental projects and foundation stone laying functions.

To questions from media representatives on the clashes at the Ramanagara function, the minister said: “Ramanagara district has its own big history. Nadaprabhu Keme Gowda, Siddaganga Mutt pontiff Sri Shivakumara Swamiji, Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff Sri Balagangadharanath Swamiji were born in this district. It was also represented by stalwarts like Kengal Hanumanthaiah, HD Devegowda and HD Kumaraswamy. The Congress workers deliberately created trouble and blackened the reputation of the district.’’

“When the Chief Minister visits the district, it is our bounden duty to extend apolitical and cordial welcome. The entire programme was official and arranged by the government. But the Congressmen wanted to disturb and create trouble. I am deeply pained by the incident and will fight to root out this kind of unruly behaviour, which has tarnished the image of the district,’’ he said.

Dr Narayan demanded an apology from the Congress party for tarnishing the image of the district and said people know how to punish such ruffians. "The Congress workers are unhappy at the development programmes implemented by the BJP government. Nobody has the right to demand that the Chief Minister or any minister should speak to suit their needs. We will never accept such uncivilised behaviour,’’ he said.

Responding to Dr Ashwath Narayan from Mysuru, the State Congress Chief DK Shivakumar accused the minister for making ‘’provocative comments and insulting the people of Ramanagara.’’

“The Ramanagara incident shows the height arrogance of a minister. Minister Ashwath Narayan has invited the Chief Minister and he should know how to speak in a function in the presence of the Chief Minister. A minister cannot speak the language of rowdies and street fighters in the presence of Chief Minister and that too in an official function. In politics, there are all kinds of people, who may have their own grievances. But it is the responsibility of the district in charge minister to handle the situation and treat all people with respect. I don’t know what is his culture or upbringing,’’ he sarcastically remarked.

Shivakumar also remarked that Ramanagara district had given birth to Kengal Hanumanthaiah and had elected stalwarts like HD Deve Gowda, Ramakrishna Hegde and HD Kumaraswamy besides S M Krishna. “We may not be big political leaders like Dr Ashwath Narayan and might be even childish. But we belong to Ramanagara district and we will not be frightened or scared of persons like the minister. We know how to handle them,’’ he declared.

The KPCC Chief said the function was for unveiling the statues of Kempegowda, the builder of Bengaluru, and architect of Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar. “The statues were not created by the minister. The statues were built when I was the district in charge ministers along with others. Not one person or political party can claim all credit,’’ he said.

Shivakumar said the minister was free to make any kind of speeches in their own party platform. “When a Chief Minister attends an official function, it should be conducted in a dignified manner with decorum. The ruling BJP has been trying to unseat the present Chief Minister. They created all conspiracies to bring down and topple former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. Now they are after Basavaraj Bommai. It is the BJP leaders who provided with all materials on Bitcoin scam and many other scams. I know what this Ashwath Narayan did and will come with details at the appropriate time. But let him try to project himself as a big leader,’’ he warned and alleged that the BJP leaders were behind the contractors commission scandal.

“Bommai is their party leader and it is their party. Insulting a Chief Minister at a function is a crime and insult to people,’’ Shivakumar said and commented that his becoming a minister was itself an insult. "I have been MLA 7 times. Let him explain what he means by development. I am prepared to come at any time and any day. Let him tell the people what he has done and whether he is spending anything from pocket or taxpayers money,’’ he asked.

Shivakumar asserted that the Congress party respects the Chief Minister and his position. “But just because we respect the Chief Minister, we cannot sit quiet or silently listen when he questions our manhood in the presence of the Chief Minister. We too have some self-respect. In politics, power is temporary. It comes and goes. The blood of people in Ramanagara and Bengaluru rural and Bengaluru Urban is different and let the minister remember that. We cannot tolerate arrogance,’’ he warned.

The Chief Minister, in his statement, regretted the incident at the Ramanagara function and termed it as most unfortunate. “We cannot tolerate such behaviour,’’ he said and criticised the Congress party’s padayatra on Mekedatu project and termed it as politically motivated.