From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 4: Gulbarga Bishop Dr Robert Michael Miranda called on Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar at his residence and felicitated him on Tuesday.

Former MLC Ivan D’Souza and Advocate Chinnaraj accompanied the Bishop, when he called on the deputy chief minister at his residence.

Shivakumar had a cordial discussion with JD(S) leader and former minister H
D Revanna in the corridors of the State Assembly later.

'BSY, Bommai, BJP should protest against Modi'

Speaking to media persons after the BJP leaders staged a dharna in the
assembly stalling the proceedings on the very first day of the budget session, the deputy chief minister ridiculed the BJP leaders for staging a dharna in the house demanding implementation of the Congress government’s guarantees to the people.

"People have decided and sent them home to take rest. As they are jobless,
they come in the assembly and hold unnecessary protests and dharnas,’’ he said and demanded that the BJP leaders must first protest and stage dharna against their own BJP government in Delhi, which has denied rice to the State for the Anna Bhagya scheme even though it has sufficient stock in the Food Corporation of India godowns.

"BJP leaders Basavaraj Bommai and B S Yediyurappa must hold their protest
against the Narendra Modi government,’’ he said and welcomed the BJP protests as it is giving more publicity for the Congress government’s guarantees and the refusal of the Centre to sell rice to Karnataka.

Asked about JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s charge that Rs 30 lakh is being demanded in the chief minister’s office, Shivakumar said the charge was ‘’totally baseless. No department or office in the government is demanding money for any work. If he has any proof, let him approach the Lokayukta. As a former chief minister, he should know it. We welcome it, if he files a complaint with Lokayukta instead of making wild allegations.’’

'BJP is anti-poor, anti-people'

Meanwhile, Rural Development and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge criticised the BJP leaders for stalling the business on the opening day flouting all rules and norms and charged that BJP has proved itself to be "anti-poor and anti-people’’ and has no faith in democratic values.

"Our government has implemented the guarantees soon after coming to
power while BJP has been unable to select an opposition leader even after a month since the elections. There is infighting and factions within BJP,’’ he said.

The Congress guarantees are for the people, who are watching the developments and are fully aware of the BJP’s games to defeat the guarantees, he said and wanted to know whether the BJP has fulfilled its promises in the State or at the Centre.