Bommai dismisses allegations of plot to destabilise Karnataka's Congress govt
Bengaluru, July 25: Senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday alleged that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's allegations of a conspiracy being hatched overseas by some BJP and JD(S) leaders to destabilise the government in Karnataka is aimed at deflecting public attention from the discontent brewing within the ruling party.
Shivakumar on Monday claimed that a plot was being hatched in Singapore to topple Karnataka's Congress government. It created a flutter in political circles.
The former chief minister, clarifying that no BJP leader has indulged in any such activities to topple the government, said the failures of this government have naturally led to disgruntlement among the legislators and infighting.
"Shivakumar's statements are leading to instability in this government. I have been observing it. There was no need for him to speak about Singapore, but it is aimed at deflecting public attention from the consequences of B K Hariprasad's comments. And to unnecessarily target the opposition parties, he made those statements," Bommai said.
MLC Hariprasad on July 21 courted controversy saying he knew "how to make or bring the chief minister down".
Speaking to reporters here, Bommai said, "It (Shivakumar's statement) was also aimed at preparing the base for his (Shivakumar) future strategy and on the whole to make known his displeasure against the government. No BJP leader has indulged in any such activity (to topple the government). There is no need for it. The government has full majority, let them give good administration."
Claiming that Congress MLAs are unhappy about the process of election of the leader of the legislature party and also about cabinet expansion, Bommai said the discontent had continued even during the cabinet formation.
"Work is definitely not happening for legislators, Siddaramaiah in the budget has levied taxes and brought huge loans but is facing difficulty to provide money for the 'guarantees' (poll promises of the Congress party), and has said he will not be able to provide for developmental work. Also competition for transfers has led to discontent," he said, adding that all is not good with the ruling party and this government.
He further claimed that the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state.
"Never in the history of Karnataka has there been death threats issued to five judges of the High Court. If anti-social elements and international terrorists have got such courage, it shows how weak this government is," he said, adding that this shows the state is on the path to anarchy.
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Rally against "vote chori" to protect every citizen's right, says D K Shivakumar
New Delhi/ Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar asserted that the Congress party's rally against alleged 'vote chori' (vote theft) in New Delhi is to protect every citizen's right to vote.
Accusing BJP government at the Centre of restricting vehicles with Congress workers from entering Delhi to participate in the party's mega rally, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, said that about 3,500-4,000 party leaders and workers have come from the state to participate in the rally.
Congress is holding a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday, against the alleged "vote chori" (vote theft).
"We (state Congress) have made accommodation for 1,500 people (party workers and leaders), more than 2,000 people have made their own arrangements. They have come by flight and train. About 3,500-4,000 people have come. About 1.42 crore signatures have been gathered from the state (as part of its signature campaign)," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, he said, there is a lot of enthusiasm among party workers and leaders, and they are committed to saving the Congress party in the state and the country, and protecting the citizens' right to vote.
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"As per the information that I have received this morning, the BJP and the central government are stopping vehicles (with Congress workers) from coming to Delhi, they are apparently not allowing vehicles to enter the city. I don't know why they are doing this. I don't know why the BJP and the central government are so worried. But no one can stop our voice," he added.
Further stating that Congress is fighting on behalf of the people of the country to protect their right to vote, the Deputy CM said, there is no politics in it. He said, all the leaders will be leaving for the protest venue from the Congress office in Delhi.
Reacting to a question on Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly terming Congress party's rally as an "act of frustration" due to electoral losses, and similar criticism from other BJP leaders, he said, he doesn't want to react to anyone from the saffron party.
"Let them say anything for their enjoyment. We, the Congressmen, won't think about electoral victories and losses. We think about the sacrifice made by our elders during the freedom struggle, to give democracy and a constitution to the country. Sonia Gandhi sacrificed power (PM post) and gave it to an economist like Manmohan Singh. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for this country," he said.
Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi went to jail for the sake of this country, he further pointed out, adding that, "A hundred years ago, Gandhi took over the leadership of the freedom struggle; today in these difficult times, Mallikarjun Kharge has taken the responsibility as the Congress President."
Shivakumar, responding to a question, said, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will also be attending the rally. "Both of us will go together (to the venue) from the Indira Gandhi Bhavan (in Delhi)."
He, however, did not wish to comment on any meeting with the Congress high command, including Soina Gandhi, on the issue of leadership change in Karnataka. Meanwhile, slogans calling Shivakumar the "next CM" were raised by his supporters as the Deputy CM left the Karnataka Bhavan.
