Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Mar 3: Even as Sai Giridhar Rai, the man who was arrested at the behest of energy minister, D K Shivakumar, for reportedly using abusive language during his telephonic call to the energy minister, was released on the bail, the minister received a deluge of telephone calls on Wednesday from people who wanted to pour out their anger at the minister's behavior which they felt was not acceptable.
Most of the calls received to the personal number of the minister, and those of his personal assistant, personal secretary and office, were from Dakshina Kannada district. Many of them tried to explain to the minister the plight of the people from Sullia and surrounding areas because of power problem, while the others gave vent to their displeasure and anger at the behavior of the minister. Out of about 500 calls received, nearly 200 were from Sullia region, it is learnt.
Some of the calls were received by Shivakumar himself. The minister, who faced allegations of inciting Rai to engage in exchange of heated words by his rude behavior, was cool on Wednesday. He talked to the callers without losing his composure, and promised them to consult the managing director of Mescom and deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district about the 110 kv power problem at Sullia and unscheduled load shedding, sources explained.
Some of the callers are said to have questioned whether they too would be arrested, while some others told the minister that the conversation was being recorded. But the minister and his staff remained in their elements and handled the calls in a prudent manner, it is said.