From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 18: Congress leader and Karnataka’s Energy Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday started grinding his axe against BJP’s former minister and sitting MLA UmeshKatti and demanded that the opposition party should expel the Belgaum leader from the party if it cared for the unity of the State.

''We will not tolerate the separatist demand voiced by Katti on and off,” Shivakumar said and roundly criticised the Lingayat leader and sugar baron from North Karnataka for his demanding statehood for the North Karnataka.

The Congress leader asked the State BJP leaders to prove their credentials and commitment to the cause of Karnataka and its unity by acting against Katti and expelling him from the party, if it really had the courage.

Shivakumar said the BJP should refrain from its double standard politics and should expel him from the party for his divisionary politics.

''You (BJP) expel from the party, otherwise your double standards would be exposed in the coming days," the Minister said.

Shivakumar said Katti should remember that he was an influential leader from the border district of Belgaum and had been a powerful minister under different political parties and chief ministers in the State.

''If his (Katti’s) demand is on the basis of non-development of the region,” Shivakumar asked what the leader was doing all these years. ''What is his moral right to speak of separatism?,” he asked.

Asked whether the Congress would take action against former MLA B C Patil for his support for division of the State, the minister said the party would initiate action against him if he was found supported the division of the State.

Shivakumar said the north Karnataka, particularly Belgaum, was well-developed on par with the south Karnataka and there was no logic in Katti’s demand for a separate State for North Karnataka.

Farmers of Belgaum and other parts of North Karnataka have been harvesting good crops utilising irrigation and river water sources, he said.

Earlier at the Congress office here, Home Minister K J George said that police would take all steps to ensure peace and normalcy in the border areas of the State andKatti’s statement was not a threat to the State’s unity.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and leaders across the social and political spectrum in the state condemned Katti’s statement on division of the State.