BJP leaders calling me repeatedly and forcing me to join party: MLA Anil Chikkamadu
Mysuru, September 16: HD Kote Congress MLA Anil Chikkamadu said that as the BJP has been trying to topple the coalition government through Operation Lotus, the BJP leaders have been calling him and forcing him to join the party.
Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, he said that the “BJP leaders have been inviting me to join the party for the last 10 days. But I will not join BJP. I will not betray the party which has made me MLA in the young age”, he said.
BJP leader CP Yogeshwar and other leaders of the district have been forcing him to join the party. Though he was telling them that he would not join the BJP, they have been calling him repeatedly. CP Yogeshwar said that ‘join the BJP. After BJP coming to power, you will be given a minister portfolio and money. The entire expenses of the by-election will be borne by the BJP”, he made a strong allegation.
His father Chikkamadu was a loyal JDS leader. In the last Assembly election, when he did not get the ticket from JDS, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and MP Druvanarayan and other leaders have fielded him in the election and elected him. So, both Congress and JDS were like mothers to him. So, he would not leave the party. But the reports being appeared in the media were baseless, he said.
“Earlier also, CP Yogeshwar called me while forming the BJP government. Later, he stopped calling me. Now, he started to call me again. Not only me, the BJP leaders have been trying to lure many leaders including Puttaranga Shetty. Mysuru BJP leaders have also involved and I would disclose their names at right time. No swamiji or Sriramulu have approached me on joining BJP”, he clarified.
MP R Druvanarayan, MLC R Dharmasena, Bhovi Development Corporation former president GV Seetaram, Congress district president Dr BJ Vijay Kumar, leaders Kotehundi Mahadevu, Prakash Kumar and others were present.
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Chandrashekhar Swamiji apologises for remark on denying voting rights to Muslims
"If my statement has upset our Muslim brothers, I deeply regret it."
Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."
In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.
The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."
The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
