I haven’t received any notice from ED: D.K Shivakumar
“I’m not a coward, I won’t run way”
Bengaluru, September 19: “I have not received any notice from the Enforcement Directorate. I have neither cheated anybody nor stolen anything. I have not raped. I have not done anything which is illegal. So, I am not a coward to run away for the allegations being made by the BJP”, said Water Resource Minister DK Shivakumar.
Speaking to reporters at his residence here on Wednesday, Shivakumar said that “I have come from the hospital to give answer to the allegations made by the BJP spokesperson Sandeep Patra against me. It is good news that the BJP has admitted its role in the autonomous institutions of the central government. When Gujarat Congress MLAs were there at a resort in my district on August 2, 2017, the Income Tax department had conducted raids on 82 places belonging to me, my family, friends and relatives. With this, the BJP had tried to attract the MLAs who were in our custody”, he alleged.
Because of ill-health, he was admitted to the hospital. But some media have reported that he was admitted to the hospital as ED has issued a notice. He was not a coward. He would not run away. Did ED require one year to file a case against him, he asked.
“I respect the law of the land. I have responded and cooperated to the investigation of the Income Tax department officials. If I get notice from the ED, I would cooperate with them. I will come out with clean image. I have not done any mistake. The amount of Rs 6.8 crore or Rs 8 crore was not belonging to me. It belonged to my friends. But it was shown as if it was belonged to me. Rs 41 lakh found in my house belongs to me. If the IT department asked the information, I will show all the records and sources”, he said.
“IT officials have tortured my family members and friends. They have threatened my office staff and got the statements forcefully. I would not budge to any of these tortures. I have not given any amount to my party and party leaders. In which diary the code words SG, RG are there? Didn’t Sandeep Patra know what the court has said about the Jain Diary, Advani Diary, Modi diary and others, he asked.
Yeddyurappa had taken bribe through cheques. It was clarified by the IT investigating officials. Would the BJP answer about it? Yeddyurappa was day dreaming of forming BJP government in a couple of days by sending him to the jail. He would not fear about the jail. He would face everything. Nothing was permanent in the politics, Shivakumar said.
In view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, the BJP leaders have been trying to damage the Congress. The BJP people could not form the government in the state. They have lured the Congress MLAs with money and position. He would disclose everything in an appropriate time. BJP leaders should understand that it might be in power or not. But the autonomous institutions would remain permanently. “Sandeep Patra does not know what documents the IT officials have taken from my home. Let ED officials call me. I will tell them everything. I will display all the diaries and copies before the people of the country. In 2019, the country will show you the result for your deeds. You cannot blackmail us. When raids were conducted on 82 places, the officials have forcefully got the statements from my staff, friends and family members that all property and documents belonged to me. We will fight in the court of law and prove it wrong”, he said.
“Even if they send me to the jail, the BJP cannot form the government in the state. For what purpose they will arrest me? I have not done any hawala. Rs 41 laklh was my money and remaining amount belonged to my friends. There are no confusions in my party. Why should I get anticipatory bail”, he asked.
“I have accounts for every single rupee I have. I have paid Rs 30 crore tax from my family. I should have sent four MLAs during Gujarat Rajga Sabha election. But I have not betrayed the party. BJP Lok Sabha Members have informed my brother DK Suresh about the conspiracy being hatched out against me by the BJP leaders. This is not good for the BJP people. Even the Chief Minister is aware of all these issues. I will not budge to any pressure”, he said.
“Why should I resign? Those who have been to jail will become CM candidate (Yeddyurappa) and those who were in jail became the national president of the party (Amith Shah). Before any charge sheet against me, they are asking my resignation. They have been trying to mislead the court by putting pressure on it”.
- DK Shivakumar, Water Resources Minister
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BJP govt in Bengal will speed up CAA implementation, infiltrators must leave: Modi
Katwa (WB) (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday promised to accelerate the provision of citizenship under CAA for Matua, Namasudra and other refugee communities if the BJP came to power in West Bengal, while warning "infiltrators" to "pack up their bags".
Addressing a rally at Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district, Modi sought to reassure the Matua and Namasudra communities -- a politically influential refugee bloc concentrated in south Bengal -- that their future was protected not by the ruling Trinamool Congress but by the Constitution and the CAA.
The prime minister said a BJP government in Bengal would not only follow the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,' but would also add 'Sabka Hisaab,' which means every "looter and oppressor" will be held fully accountable.
"I have come to give a guarantee to the Matua, Namasudra and all refugee families of Bengal. You are not here by the grace of any TMC leader. You are here under the protection of the Constitution," Modi said.
"Modi enacted the CAA law so that Matua, Namasudra and all refugee families receive the guarantee of the Constitution (citizenship). As soon as a BJP government is formed here, the work of granting citizenship to refugee families under CAA will be expedited," he said.
The pitch comes a day after the Bengal BJP, in its manifesto, promised "citizenship and rehabilitation for all Hindu refugees" -- a message aimed squarely at Matua and Namasudra voters, many of whom have complained of large-scale deletions from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
But the prime minister paired the citizenship promise with an even sharper attack on alleged illegal immigration.
"The BJP government will free Bengal from yet another major challenge. Whoever has infiltrated India will be driven out," Modi said.
"I will tell every infiltrator to pack up their belongings. It is time to leave," he said, triggering loud cheers from the crowd.
He warned that not only infiltrators, but also those who had "facilitated" them would face action.
In a state where refugee identity and citizenship have remained politically combustible for decades, Modi attempted to turn the issue into a referendum on trust, accusing the TMC of spreading fear among refugee families while failing to protect their interests.
Congratulating the Bengal BJP for its manifesto released a day earlier, Modi said it contained the roadmap to implement the party's six guarantees.
"The BJP has resolved to take Bengal to new heights of development. Modi's guarantee is to transform the fear of TMC's ruthless government into trust, and the entire blueprint for that change is in the BJP manifesto," he said.
Seeking to project confidence, Modi claimed the huge turnout at the rally showed that Bengal was ready for political change.
"This scene is the trailer for the results of May 4. I am witnessing your fervour, your enthusiasm, your energy and your resolve. This is the proclamation of trust triumphing over fear. Bengal is ready for change," the PM added.
Modi also cited the BJP's performance among women voters elsewhere to argue that the party was steadily moving towards victory in Bengal.
"Wherever there is heavy voting and strong participation by women, BJP-NDA has received a massive mandate. In Bengal too, BJP is steadily moving towards victory," he said.
"The 15-year rule of TMC has given nothing but fear to every citizen, every family of Bengal. This election is to eradicate the TMC's fear," he said.
Seeking to match and outbid the TMC's welfare plank, Modi repeatedly referred to what he called the BJP's "three guarantees" for women, youth and government employees.
For women, the BJP has promised a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000.
"Bengal's sisters and daughters will be able to come and go anytime, anywhere. BJP government means complete assurance of women's safety," Modi said.
For unemployed youth, Modi promised age relaxation in government recruitment for those who had crossed the age limit because of what he described as the TMC's "misgovernance".
He also promised implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees.
The PM sought to sharpen the corruption issue as well, promising a "white paper" on what he called corruption involving TMC ministers, MLAs and syndicates.
"The BJP government will bring a white paper and give a legal account of the corruption of TMC's MLAs, ministers and syndicates," he said.
"BJP will not stop any scheme. BJP will only shut down the shop of corruption and stop TMC's loot," Modi said, accusing the ruling party of falsely claiming that welfare schemes would be discontinued if the BJP came to power.
Modi also used the rally to attack the TMC over the crisis facing potato farmers.
"TMC's deceit has ruined potato farmers. They promised to buy potatoes at MSP, but farmers' crop are rotting," he said.
Modi said Bengal's farmers would receive Rs 9,000 annually under the PM-Kisan scheme -- Rs 6,000 from the Centre and an additional Rs 3,000 from a BJP government in Bengal.
The welfare-heavy pitch was capped with a promise to roll out Ayushman Bharat in Bengal immediately after the BJP forms the government.
"On the day a BJP chief minister takes oath, the very first cabinet meeting will implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana. This is Modi's guarantee," he said.
