'Why do I need RCB? I don't even drink Royal Challenge': DK Shivakumar on buying IPL franchise
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has dismissed speculation about his alleged interest in purchasing the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Addressing the media, Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, rejected the rumours in characteristically blunt fashion. “I am not a mad man. Why do I need RCB? I don’t even drink Royal Challenge,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
The Congress leader mentioned that although he had been a member of the Karnataka Cricket Association since his youth and received offers to join the franchise’s management, he simply does not have the time to get involved.
“Though I had offers to be part of the management, I don’t have time. My own educational institutions, I have resigned and left it to other members of the family to take care of it,” he added.
The rumours surfaced shortly after reports suggested that Diageo Plc, the British distiller and current owner of RCB through its Indian unit United Spirits Ltd, might be exploring the sale of part or all of the RCB franchise.
However, the rumours were ended in a mail to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), with Mital Sanghvi, the company secretary, informing the regulating body of the Indian Stock Market, "The company would like to clarify that the aforesaid media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussion. This is for your information and records."
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress government has been under fire from the opposition BJP and JD(S) following a tragic stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations. The incident claimed eleven lives and has sparked widespread criticism over crowd management failures.
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Deputy CM DK Shivakumar rejects allegations of Surjewala meeting Karnataka officials
Hassan (Karnataka), Jul 26 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday refuted allegations that Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala had met with state government officials, terming it "completely false".Speaking to reporters at Arsikere, Shivakumar clarified that Randeep Surjewala has neither met nor spoken to any officials.
“This is our government. If there is anything to be conveyed, he (Surjewala) will tell us directly. If there are any mistakes, he will inform us, and we will correct them. Apart from that, saying he met officials is false,” Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president said.
Asked about Karnataka Minister K N Rajanna’s statement that such meetings with officials are "illegal", Shivakumar declined to comment.
“I don’t want to speak about senior leaders. The Chief Minister has already responded to this. After his clarification, I have nothing further to say. The Chief Minister has more information than I do,” he said.
