From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 15: Responding to JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s threat to expose the scams in BBMP, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said, 'If somebody wants to expose or make exposes, he is free to do so. Everybody is free to expose.'
Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said: "Nobody can be prevented from exposing what happens in BBMP as claimed by Kumaraswamy. He can do anything and make public whatever information he has,’’ he said and declined to comment on the JD(S) leader’s claim that if he exposes the information that he claimed he had in his pen-drive, COD probe will be conducted and a favourable report will be obtained.
The deputy chief minister said: "I am not as experienced as him (Kumaraswamy)' and asserted that all parties are free to make exposes. "I have been asked not to call him 'anna' (elder brother). He is also speaking about the next birth,' he said making it clear that he had no intention of fighting with Kumaraswamy.
"Why should I wage a battle against him. Our political battle is over and people have blessed our party. He is jealous while I am in power and is regretting his failure,’’ he said.
Shivakumar said there is no hurry to expose the scams in BBMP. "Let everybody have their say and complete their picture. I will speak at the appropriate time with all documentary proof after we get the report of the investigations," he said.
To a question on BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal predicting the fall of the Congress government in six to seven months, Shivakumar retorted: "Some people have mental illness. We can’t prevent them from dreaming or having illusions. We are not bothered about criticism from anybody. People have blessed us and given us a mandate to implement the guarantees. We are doing it and will keep our word."
Asked whether those who left the party in the past will be invited to rejoin, Shivakumar made it clear that he has not spoken to anybody and will not come in the way of anybody taking their political decisions.
He also asserted that he has not spoken to anybody and made it clear that everybody is free to decide about their own future. "My only concern as KPCC president is taking everybody along and strengthen the organisation. We want to increase our vote share and win the maximum number of seats in the Lok Sabha polls. We are focused on that," he said.
Replying to questions on the corruption allegations levelled by BJP leaders like Dr C N Ashwath Narayan and R Ashoka, he termed them as "Navarangi Narayan" and "Samrat Ashoka" and said they were scared of the investigations launched into all the works in BBMP. After their party’s defeat, these leaders were scared and had started hurling abuses and baseless allegations.
The deputy chief minister said the Congress government is not going to harm the genuine contractors and will clear the bills of those persons who have executed the works and submitted correct bills. But those who have submitted bogus bills or claiming payments for works sanctioned but not carried out will not be spared either.
"These BJP leaders, who are so much worried about the plight of the contractors, must answer why they kept their bills pending for the last two or three years. I will come out with details, facts and figures," he said asserting that the government is not bothered about baseless allegations.
Asked about Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s criticism that the Congress government’s decision to scrap NEP from next year was "part of vendetta politics against Modi," Shivakumar asked the Union Minister to explain why BJP ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana had not implemented NEP.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should first ensure that all BJP ruled States implement NEP and then Sitharaman or others can speak about Karnataka,’’ he said, declaring that the Congress government does not want the "Nagpur Education Policy’’ of the RSS.
Shivakumar said the Congress party had declared its intention of scrapping the NEP and said the Union Government should not interfere in education which is listed among the State subjects. "We are proud of our educational institutions and our achievements,’’ he said.
To a pointed question on senior party leader and Food Minister K H Muniyappa’s statement that all senior ministers must give up their ministerial posts after two-and-a-half years and make way for youngsters, he refused to comment and termed it as an "internal matter of the party’’ and a decision will be taken by the party high command.
Later, after hoisting the national tricolour at the party office, he told reporters that the State Government is ready to part with 10 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu and explained that the present quantum of release will be decided based on the availability and the drinking water needs of Bengaluru and surrounding areas.
"We have released water in the past and we will do so in the future too. There is no need for any wrangling or squabbling. Last year, 400 tmcft of water had flown to Tamil Nadu and most of it had gone waste into the sea," he said, pointing out that the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project would come handy in such situations.
However, in distress years and low storages, the distress must be shared, he added.
Both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar later shared breakfast at a private hotel along with Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Govindaraju.