Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS) 

Bengaluru, Oct 27: "I have not done anything wrong. The 50 days in prison have made me a stronger person and I will continue the fight," said an emotional D K Shivakumar, MLA and senior leader of Congress party in the state. 

Former minister D K Shivakumar was addressing the press at the headquarters of the state Congress, on Saturday, October 27 after he reached from Delhi. He said that the time in prison allowed him to look inwardly into himself and analyze why he has fallen in such a situation.

"All the details in the affidavit, about my wife and daughter, which I have sworn are in front of the eyes of the people of Karnataka. Let the law and God punish me, if I have done anything wrong. The investigation is going on. If my brother, I or my family members have done anything wrong, I am ready to accept the punishment that will be given to me, even if it means hanging," added Shivakumar. 

The former minister accused the state BJP government and said, "It has come to my knowledge that the state government of BJP has given the go ahead to the CBI to conduct an inquiry against me. I do not mind. I will face that also. My case will be a very big precedent in the country on money laundering and Income Tax." 

Shivakumar challenged the sleuths of ED and said, "Let us see how it ends. I mean your experiments on me, regardless of who is behind the game." The former minister was cautious not to take the name of anyone from BJP in his statements. 

"I have neither gone against my conscience nor betrayed anyone. Politics is my passion. I am a businessman by profession, though I was born as an agriculturist. I have become an educationist by choice. I will make the facts and documents of this case public in the coming days," said Shivakumar. 

D K Shivakumar was almost in tears when he recalled the ordeal his 86-year-old mother had to undergo, when she was called for questioning by ED. He said, "Just think if this were to happen to your mothers. My children will be teased that they are the kids of a person who was put in prison." 

"I had gifted mobile phones worth Rs 50,000 each to all the MPs when I was the energy minister. However, I was pulled for this by the Income Tax department when I was holding the irrigation ministry. Then I paid the amount from my personal finance. What surprises me is that the IT department did not serve notice on the MPs who took such a costly mobile from me as gift," said Shivakumar saying that he is being framed in an unfair manner. 

Shivakumar said that his hospital stay was monitored very strictly and no one was allowed to meet him. “Some of my visitors had to be brought in secretly. Dr G Parameshwara visited me in the guise of an actual medical doctor treating me, while KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao entered from the backdoor to meet me. I will reveal all details of the ordeal I went through during my imprisonment for 50 days." 

The former minister thanked all his supporters, leaders of the party, media and his friends in the BJP for their support and said that he is feeling stronger to carry out the fight.