Under fire DK Shivakumar says he would remain mum on various issues
Bengaluru (PTI): Facing flak over issues, including his singing of the RSS anthem, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said he would remain mum and that the party's spokespersons be approached for comments on any subject.
Shivakumar has also been criticised by BJP for stating that "Chamundeswari hill is not exclusive property of Hindus".
Mysuru MP and scion of the Mysuru Royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraj Wadiyar had termed Shivakumar's statement on his family deity as "hurting".
"It's a very painful and ridiculous statement. At a time when people are worshipping the Goddess Gouri and Ganesha, a statement was given that hurts the Hindu sentiments, which is condemnable," Wadiyar, a BJP MP, said.
On Thursday, Shivakumar took a swipe at Wadiyar.
"You see, people don't tolerate when I speak some facts, be it Pramoda Devi (member of the Mysuru royal family), Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar or inside the Assembly," a visibly upset Deputy CM told reporters.
He said, "People's only job is to find fault in whatever I utter -- be it politicians, journalists or anybody else. This is what is going on. Better not to speak. There are other leaders and party spokesperson. You (reporters) better speak to them."
Reporters approached Shivakumar for BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh's post on 'X'.
Targeting the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for allegedly making Shivakumar apologise for his recital of RSS anthem inside the Karnataka Assembly on August 21, Santhosh posted on 'X': "Let that sink in ...@INCIndia under @RahulGandhi will never tolerate anything concerned with nationalism. They hate it tooth & nail & want everyone who are there with them to oppose anything that is nationalist."
The BJP has launched a vehement attack on the Congress for choosing Banu Mushtaq, a Kannada literatteur from Muslim community who won Booker Prize for her book 'Heart Lamp', to inaugurate the Dasara festivities this year.
Alleging that Mushtaq has no respect for Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, another form of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the BJP leaders warned that they would launch a movement against the state government's decision.
Facing criticism from some party workers for his RSS anthem recital, Shivakumar, who is also state Congress president, recently tendered an apology.
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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send a message that "Muslims are being targeted."
"I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi," he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, "People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline."
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of CM’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun. They were also said to have not actively participated in campaigning.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to CM Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the chief minister.
Rejecting allegations of factions within the party, Shivakumar said, "We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?"
"All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress," he added, saying there are no factions within the party and such claims are media-driven.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
"We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together," he said.
