RSS and Nazi are both same, no difference between the two: HD Kumaraswamy
Says, won't be cowed down by threats
Bengaluru, Jan 25: Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday alleged right wing organisations were behind an unsigned threat letter naming him among others and said he can't be cowed down by such threats.
"I will not stay quiet because of such threats. I know who is behind it. Those belonging to BJP linked organisations speak about terror activities of other community, while there are terrorists within. Very carefully they conduct their activities," he said.
Speaking to reporters here, Kumaraswamy said he would not be cowed down by such threats by right wing outfits.
"RSS was started along with Nazi activities in Germany and there was no difference between them...I'm telling this to RSS and VHP directly.
"The country was in troubled times with unemployment and poverty, use your time and energy into it, instead of threatening to kill someone...," he added.
Pointing out that those close to him had advised not to take threat lightly, he said, "...if they try to cause any danger to me, they will turn into ashes."
The threats that Kumaraswamy referred were following the surfacing of an unsigned threat letter with a list of 15 famous personalities including him, actors Prakash Raj and Chetan, Lingayat SeerNijagunananda Swami among others.
The threat was reportedly posted to the Seer's ashram in Belagavi.
Karnataka Home minister Basavaraj Bommai asked Kumaraswamy to share details about the threat to enable police to investigate it.
"I got to know about the death threat to former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. We have given him the security that a former Chief Minister gets- which is Z category...If he gives details about the threat to police officials, we will get it investigated and help us provide extra security," he added.
Meanwhile, hitting out at state Health Minister B Sriramulu for asking him to leave the country, who accused him of developing a liking towards Pakistan, Kumaraswamy said: "...Why should I go to Pakistan, they (BJP) get votes by singing bhajans on Pakistan."
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England sticking with Key, McCullum and Stokes despite Ashes humbling
London (AP): England is not sacking anybody following the 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia.
A review of the tour by the England and Wales Cricket Board, announced within hours of the final match in January, was concluded on Monday. Firing people would “be the easy thing to do,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said but he insisted, "This is not the time to throw everything out."
Managing director Rob Key, coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes kept their jobs after the best England side to go to Australia in 14 years lost the Ashes in 11 days with two games to spare.
“Moving people on can sometimes be the easy thing to do. That's not the route that we're going to take,” Gould said. “I've seen the driving ambition and determination that we're lucky enough to have within our leadership group to take the lessons from the Ashes and move forward.”
Gould previously was the chief executive of Bristol City soccer club and said the ECB would not follow the same route as soccer's hire-and-fire culture.
“Cricket is a very unique sport in that it takes a team of leadership ... it's not like football where there's a single point of failure or success with a manager," he said. He added the ECB would not “select or deselect management based on a popularity campaign.”
The main criticisms of England's tour were poor preparation, player misbehavior, and selection mistakes.
At a press conference at Lord's, Gould and Key said McCullum and Stokes have not had a “bust up,” they did not want McCullum to “completely change” but “to evolve,” the behavior of some players was “unprofessional,” there will be more consequences for underperforming, and a commitment to “better long-term planning” ahead of major test series.
Some changes were already implemented for the Twenty20 World Cup, where England reached the semifinals. Gould implied that performance saved McCullum.
Key acknowledged that England supporters would be disappointed to see the management team go unpunished.
“I know people want punishment and that people then should be sacked for that,” Key said. “That doesn't mean we don't feel like we've gone through some serious pain: Brendon, myself, Ben. It's been as tough a time as I think I've had.”
