From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 4: A day after the ugly scenes, use of abusive language and open challenge on manhood leading to almost blows involving a State Cabinet minister and an opposition Congress lok sabha member at a public function in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and thousands of spectators on Monday in Ramanagara district, about 50 kms from Bengaluru, the two DK brothers – DK Suresh and DK Shivakumar – separately launched a scathing attack against the minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan and virtually declared war against ruling BJP.
Ramanagara, which became famous following the shooting of the Hindi blockbuster Sholay featuring movie villain Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh leading a gang of dreaded dacoits and the screen heroes Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Sanjiv Kumar in the 1970s, has again hit headlines resulting in a no-holds-barred battle for supremacy to gain control over the dominant Vokkaliga community.
Though the family of the former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda with his sons HD Revanna, HD Kumaraswamy with wife Anita Kumaraswamy as well as grandsons Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Prajwal Revanna and their JD(S) party is considered most powerful in the Vokkaliga dominated Old Mysore region, the DK brothers and their supporters also enjoy considerable clout.
The ruling BJP, however, does not have a strong and influential Vokkaliga leader and the two prominent saffron leaders – Revenue Minister R Ashok and Higher Education Minister Ashwath Narayan – are jostling to emerge as BJP faces. Though both Ashok and Ashwath Narayan have held the position of being Deputy Chief Ministers, the latter is leaving no stone unturned to become the top man by targeting the DK family in their home turf by virtue of being named as the Ramanagara district in-charge minister in the Bommai regime.
The ugly scenes and spectacle of no less a person than the Higher Education Minister, a medical professional before taking the political plunge, at a public function in Ramanagara district in presence of the Chief Minister himself and senior cabinet colleagues, including Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar, who himself is a Vokkaliga, publicly questioning the manhood of DK Suresh and that too in front of his supporters, and the Congress leader charging menacingly at the minister as if to settle the issue with his fists must be seen as nothing but a game of one-upmanship.
Though the Chief Minister and JD(S) MLA Anita Kumaraswamy tried to stop the situation from going out of hand and advised caution, Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, former minister CP Yogeshwar and Byrathi Basavaraj, all belonging to the Vokkaliga community and present on the dais, remained silent and surprisingly did not come to Dr Narayan’s help or support.
Both Shivakumar and Suresh, who are busy in taking out the padayatra demanding implementation of the Mekedatu reservoir project covering almost the entire old Mysore region although essentially it is also aimed at bringing water to Bengaluru, have in separate interaction with the media virtually accepted the challenge thrown at them by Ashwath Narayan that he will not allow the formation of ‘’Ramanagara Republic’’ and thereby alluding to BJP’s mining lords Janardhana Reddy and brothers and their dominance in Ballari which was dubbed as ‘’Ballari Republic’’ and contended that the people of Ramanagara are there, they will decide and reply at the appropriate time.
DK Suresh said he is not scared of facing the challenge thrown at him by the minister to prove his manhood in the presence of the Chief Minister. ``I will not run away,’’ he said complimenting and congratulating all the BJP leaders and ministers, who have been speaking in support of Dr Ashwath Narayan. ``People have seen the language used by the minister and his culture and upbringing. It is for the people to judge and decide whether a minister, that too holding Higher Education portfolio, speak the way he did,’’ he said pointing out that even Bommai himself had advised the minister to desist from using the language.
“When the minister hurls a challenge to come forward if they are man enough, can any self-respecting person remain silent. It is a challenge not just to me but the people of entire Ramanagara district. It is also an insult to the architect of our Constitution Dr B R Ambedkar and the founder of Bengaluru, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. He has challenged not just DK Suresh but the entire people of Ramanagara district. How and why did muscle power and manhood crop up in an official function and in the mouth of the minister is a question that must be answered by BJP and its state and national leaders,’’ Suresh said.
The KPCC Chief, at a separate media interaction, said the ugly spectacle and the kind of language used by a cabinet minister in the presence of the Chief Minister and the open challenge to prove manhood are totally unbecoming of a responsible person and unacceptable. ``The minister has insulted the people of Ramanagara district and it is they who will decide and give appropriate reply,’’ he said.
Shivakumar as well as Suresh declared that the Congress party will go ahead with the Mekedatu padayatra and will not be cowed down. If the Congress party’s padayatra is not allowed, how can BJP carry out election meetings and Prime Minister as well as Union Ministers as well as BJP leaders hold rallies. Are they exempted from Covid and Omicron? Will the Health Minster Dr K Sudhakar advise the Prime Minister to cancel his election rallies? Will they stop election rallies in Uttar Pradesh and prevent their own party? How can Chief Minister and Ministers attend wedding receptions and participate in public functions, Shivakumar asked.