Bengaluru, August 02: Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G Parameshwar said that though the Congress-JDS coalition government was committed to develop the north Karnataka, BJP leaders have been politicizing the separate state issue.

Speaking to reporters at the Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday, the DCM said that “ours is a united Karnataka. No one should speak of dividing the state. But the BJP leaders have been politicizing the issue”, he said.

“All previous governments have contributed for the development of the north Karnataka. This government would not do anything wrong to that region. There was a lot of development from the funds released during the SM Krishna government. This government is also continuing those works. Ours is one language, one land and we are all Kannadigas”, he said.

“We have got the information about illegal migrants. Police have been searching them. Though the VISA period of 107 African students was expired, they are residing here only. The government will take steps to send them. Those who do not have authorized documents will be sent back”.

-      Dr G Parameshwar, Deputy Chief Minister



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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday expressed confidence that the ruling Congress will secure a decisive victory in the Assembly bypolls scheduled for April 9 in the Bagalkote and Davanagere South constituencies, citing a favourable ground response to the party’s guarantee schemes.

These are ‘Shakti’, ‘Gruha Lakshmi’, ‘Gruha Jyoti’, ‘Yuva Nidhi’ and ‘Anna Bhagya’.

The bypolls were necessitated by the demise of sitting Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, who represented Davanagere South and Bagalkote constituencies, respectively.

The Congress has fielded Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Shamanur, in Davanagere South and Umesh Meti in Bagalkote. They are locked in direct contests with BJP candidates T Dasakariyappa and Veerabhadrayya Charantimath.

“Both Bagalkote and Davanagere are very positive. Congress workers are doing an excellent job, going door to door and convincing people about the guarantee schemes,” Shivakumar told reporters here.

He said even voters who had earlier supported the BJP were now inclined towards the Congress.

“Even those who voted for the BJP earlier are saying they will vote for Congress. People want the guarantees to continue and are expressing difficulties due to rising prices,” he said.

Expressing confidence of an improved electoral performance, he added, “There is a strong sense that we will win with a bigger margin than before.”

Shivakumar also said he would travel to Kerala for two days and resume campaigning thereafter. “I am going to Kerala for two days. After returning, we will continue the campaign from Davanagere,” he said.

Referring to the shortage of LPG, including auto LPG, in the state, Shivakumar blamed the BJP-led government and called for immediate intervention by the Centre.

“The LPG shortage is due to the BJP. Auto drivers and those in the transport sector are facing difficulties,” he claimed.

“This is something the central government has to address. It must formulate proper policies and take precautionary measures,” he said, adding that the BJP should apologise to the public.

“They should come forward and apologise to the people for the inconvenience caused and resolve the issues they have created,” he said.