From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Hubballi, Mar 6: “When BJP was in power, they did not investigate or arrest anybody when their own party members shouted pro-Pakistan slogans unlike Congress government, which has arrested three persons. So what is their commitment and patriotism,’’ asked Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday.
Speaking to media persons at the Hubballi airport, he said BJP workers had shouted pro-Pakistan slogans when BJP was in power in the State and the government did nothing.
The Deputy Chief Minister also taunted the BJP leadership and Narendra Modi regime for taking no action against the BJP MP from Mysuru Pratap Simha, who had issued passes to persons, who intruded in parliament and hurled gas canisters.
“They (BJP workers) were wearing saffron shawls and shouted pro-Pakistan slogans in Mandya. Why they were not arrested then and what investigation was done? Was there any FSL report by their own agencies or by the government? Our leaders and MLAs had lodged complaints. We remained silent as we did not want to escalate the situation,’’ he said dismissing BJP leaders as, “These are all fake nationalists.’’
Shivakumar said the BJP leaders are now demanding resignations and let them clarify to whom the resignations should be given.
“When anti-national activities and pro-Pakistan slogans were raised by BJP workers, the BJP government failed to act,’’ he said reminding the BJP that ‘murder is murder, theft is theft and anti-nationalism is anti-antinationalism irrespective of the guilty persons’.
Why media is silent after SC quashed ED case?
The Deputy Chief Minister attacked the media for its pro-BJP bias and said the media went gaga when he was charged with money laundering case and arrested by ED. There were panel discussions and debates for days as if a big crime had been committed.
“Now that the Supreme Court has quashed the ED case against me and others, the media is silent. The media and their bosses must reflect on their conduct,’’ he said.
He said the Congress candidates for Lok Sabha polls will be decided by the AICC President. The party’s Central Election Committee is discussing the issue at its meeting in Delhi on Thursday. The final decision will be taken by the party high command, he said.
Not just 2 or 3, more BJP leaders are coming
Answering questions on BJP MLAs S T Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar joining the Congress, Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC president, said not just the two - Somashekar and Hebbar – or three but more leaders are joining the party. Just wait and see.
To a question on former chief minister Jagadish Shettar’s statement that ‘floodgates are going to open shortly’, Shivakumar said Shettar, who had quit BJP and joined Congress and was made MLC after his defeat on Congress ticket in the assembly polls to rejoin BJP, will regret soon.
“Shettar is going to express his regrets soon and you will see it,’’ he quipped.
Asked about the delays in the Mahadayi irrigation project, he said Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, who had organised victory celebrations on the issue in the past in Hubballi, must reply why the Modi government has given its approvals.
“We have submitted project details and even invited tenders. You should ask Prahlad Joshi as to why he has done nothing and Modi has refused to give approvals. He must answer to the people of Hubballi,’’ he said declaring that the government was ready implement the project if the Centre gives approvals.