No end to BJP's harassment, says Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Jan 14: Claiming to be targeted by the ruling BJP, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Saturday alleged there would be no end to the harassment meted out to him in the wake of the recent Mekedatu padayatra.
Also, he hit out at the administration for booking cases against him and other Congress leaders for holding the march in violation of COVID-19 curbs. He said no such action was taken against the BJP leaders for going against the restrictions.
"Whether Mekedatu or not, they are doing all kinds of experiments on me, it's going on. My daughter was telling me that they have started issuing notices to one of our schools --- harassment, there is no end to it. We will have to live and die with it," Shivakumar said in response to a question whether he feels that he would be targeted by the ruling BJP following the Mekedatu padayatra.
Speaking to reporters here, he said cases were booked against him and other Congress leaders everyday during the march while no such action was taken against BJP leaders, including the Chief Minister, who violated the COVID curbs.
"They may put us in jail and feel happy, that's all. Let them...(I'm their) first aim," he said in response to a question whether there was a conspiracy to finish him off politically.
Further asked whether attempts were on to keep him busy with income tax and ED-related cases, with elections approaching, the KPCC chief said that he would speak on the issue along with evidence in a few days.
"...not now, after some days, along with some evidence I will speak...time is approaching to inform people about it. I will place things before them, with papers," he said.
With limited options before it amid surging COVID cases, the government prohibiting movement, and High Court observations, the Karnataka Congress on Thursday had temporarily halt its padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru on its fifth day.
Police have filed four FIRs against Congress leaders, including Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, for taking out the march defying COVID-19 curbs.
Questioning as to why cases have not been booked against BJP leaders who violated COVID curbs, Shivakumar said, "We will not leave, we will approach the court, also write to the government, seeking booking of cases against all those who violated."
He made it clear that the Congress would target bureaucrats and police officials for not acting against BJP leaders.
Further stating that the Congress would resume its padayatra once the COVID curbs are relaxed, Shivakumar said, "If they (govt) allow 10 people, 10 people will walk, if they allow a 100, 100 will walk...we will have to do it as we have made the commitment."
In response to another question, Shivakumar said let the government respond to activist Medha Patkar and others who have raised environmental and social concerns regarding the Mekedatu project.
"The government is there to answer them, why should I...she (Patkar) is a senior lady, we respect her, Bommai (CM Basavaraj Bommai) is the right man to answer," he said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
