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Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 16: Jumping to defend Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son and former MLA Dr Yatindra Siddaramaiah over JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy’s allegations about the collection of money for transfers, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said he has seen and heard the alleged audio-video released by the JDS leader and said "there is nothing wrong in a son asking his father to clear the file pertaining to development of schools.’’

Speaking to media persons near the Chief Minister’s Home Office Krishna, he said the allegations leveled by the former JDS chief minister were ‘’totally baseless and needless controversy being created to tarnish the image of the chief minister. But by levelling these allegations, Dr Yatindra is projected as a big leader by JDS. It will help Dr Yatindra to grow into a big leader.’’

“JDS and BJP are targeting Yathindra with frivolous allegations as they are devoid of any real issues. By creating unnecessary controversies, they are only giving free publicity to help Yathindra grow as a leader,” Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar said, “I watched the vide, Dr Yathindra has not mentioned the names of any officer or post or even made any remark which can be even remotely construed as a transfer scam. What is wrong even if he wants a few good officers transferred to his father’s constituency? It is natural for politicians to seek transfer of good officers to their constituencies.’

Responding to a query on the appropriateness of Yathindra seeking transfer in his father’s constituency, Shivakumar said, “Many times I am unable to spend enough time in my constituency and my brother attends to many requests of people. Many times, we delegate responsibilities to local leaders in the constituency as well. There is nothing wrong in it.”

"Yathindra is also the Chairman of Ashraya Committee and he was only trying to address the issues of the constituency in a Jana Samparka meet. As the Chairman of Ashraya Committee, he is well within his powers to address issues related to schools in the constituency,’’ Shivakumar said.

Responding to a query on corruption allegations in transfers, he said that transfer season was over long back and there are no transfers happening currently. These allegations are a clear sign of desperation.

Asked if Congress is stooping too low to dub former Chief Minister H D Kumarswamy as ‘electricity thief’,  Shivakumar said, “I have asked all my party workers not comment on this issue. We did not say Kumarswamy has stolen power. He would have given the contract of illuminating his house to vendor and he would have done that.”

“If my car driver causes an accident, it is natural for people to say D K Shivakumar’s car was involved in an accident. Leaders sometime have to face challenges due to issues created by others. Kumaraswamy has displayed magnanimity by admitting the mistake. Such things happen in politics,” he added.