From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 13: Joining issue with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for asking what is H D Kumaraswamy’s connection with the Congress guarantees and challenging him to ascertain the reaction of voters in his own Channapatna constituency, JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy asserted that he has every right to question the government as an opposition leader and caustically remarked: "This is Karnataka State, not DKS Republic.’’

Sharply criticising Shivakumar in the social media over the latter’s comments, the JD(S) leader said the Congress is in power while the other parties are in opposition. "The wheel is turning. It will come down from the top and stop. But it will take time,’’ he said in a cryptic taunt.

Terming the deputy chief minister as ‘’Duplicate CM,’’ Kumaraswamy said: ‘’Power has gone to his (Shivakumar) head. In such a situation, there is no control over what the tongue blurts out. It is not surprising."

The JD(S) leader described his own party’s pre-election ‘’Pancharatna’’ programme as ‘’Panchasootras’’ (five formulae) and dubbed the Congress government’s 5 guarantees as the gimmicks to make people permanently ‘’economic dependents’’ and ‘’mere temporary measures’’ which the Congress party has been doing for 75 years.

"The ruling party believes that people relying on the government for doles will get alms of votes from them,’’ he said and claimed that he wanted to make the people ‘’self-reliant and live with dignity.’’

The JD(S) leader said a ministerial colleague of the 'Duplicate CM' had publicly admitted that ‘’cheap gimmicks are necessary for winning elections’’ and pointed out that he endorses the minister’s candid admission.

Kumaraswamy said the Congress guarantees have flopped and there is no doubt about it. "None of the guarantees has been properly implemented," he said.

Challenging Shivakumar to bring a white paper on the Congress guarantees, Kumaraswamy said he was ready for a debate on the floor of the legislature. "I have the details from the people of Channapatna as also from the other 223 constituencies. I have all the information,’’ he claimed.

The JD(S) leader criticised the government over the claims that a survey has shown the efficacy of the guarantee schemes and taunted the government why its fifth guarantee of Yuvanidhi is yet to be implemented even after six months.

"After sacrificing Ramanagara, Channapatna, Kanakapura and Magadi constituencies, now he is out to eliminate Ramanagara,’’ he said and taunted Shivakumar whether he is out to delete Rama’s name.