From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 11: “It is not just Vokkaliga community but people belonging to all communities support Congress party,” claimed KPCC Chief and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday.

Speaking to media persons near his residence in Bengaluru, he said: “People are smart and not dumb. They support only those and the party which helps them lead a happy life. The Congress government looks after people belonging to all sections of society, irrespective of their caste and religion and even people belonging to other parties.”

Asked about the pollsters claims that the Congress party benefitted in a big way in the assembly polls as 5% of the dominant Vokkaliga community had backed it, he said: “People are smart and not idiots. Vokkaligas or those from other communities decide based on which party is beneficial to them and is capable of leading the country better.”

Shivakumar made it clear that he did not ask the Vokkaliga Swamijis to clarify their stand on those who were responsible for toppling the government are taken to meet and explained that JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy and some of his ministers (in the Congress-JDS coalition government) had attended a programme of the Swamiji and upon their return the ‘Operation Kamala’ took place and the government collapsed.

He mentioned that the Adichunchanagiri Math pontiff Sri Nirmalananda Swamiji was also proud that a leader of the community had become CM. But if the same person, who lost power, goes to meet the Swamiji in the company of those who were responsible for his government’s downfall and seek his blessings, what should the Swamiji do?

“There is nothing wrong in Kumaraswamy or his brother in law Dr C N Manjunath go to meet the Adichunchanagiri Math pontiff. But if they are accompanied by the persons who pulled down the Kumaraswamy government, what is the message that will be sent to the people and the community is what I had asked,” he said.

To a question on the Vokkaliga Math Swamiji supporting JDS as Sri Krishna backed the Pandavas in the epic Mahabharatha, Shivakumar shot back: “Where is JDS? They themselves have almost dissolved it. JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda’s son-in-law and Kumaraswamy’s brother-in-law has been sent to BJP to contest on its ticket and symbol.”

“We also want the JDS to survive. But where is JDS?” he said and pointed out that, “Congress had made a mistake in the past (supporting JDS to form government and face 2019 Lok Sabha polls with JDS) and now JDS has committed even a bigger blunder.”

Asked why he and Kumaraswamy are dragging the Adichunchanagiri Math Swamiji into politics, he maintained that he and the Congress party is giving the respect and honour due to him.

To a question on why the government is narrowed down to just one community and caste, he said caste is an integral part of society. Nobody applies to be born in a particular caste or religion and the two cannot be avoided.

Responding to BJP leader B S Yediyurappa’s taunt that Congress party is bereft of trustworthy leaders and nobody seeks votes in Rahul Gandhi’s name, Shivakumar reminded Yediyurappa that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Shivamogga, he merely asked people to vote for BJP candidate B Y Raghavendra and did not utter Yediyurappa’s name.

The KPCC Chief asked Yediyurappa to talk about release of Central funds for drought relief and redressal of injustice to Karnataka in devolution of taxes and the statements made by Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. “Did Yediyurappa speak about release of Central funds for drought relief, the State’s demand on MGNREGA and tax devolution? Let him not bother about Rahul Gandhi, who is our leader,” he said.

Asked about Yediyurappa’s comment that voting for Congress is like voting for terrorists and supporting terrorism, he said: The Election Commission will answer that.

He said BJP MLAs S T Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar were still in BJP and will take their own decision. What I can say if they support us and work for our candidates, he asked.