Belagavi, Jan 26 (DHNS): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday rejected the assertion by former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy that he (Siddaramaiah) was a tiger when he was in the JD(S) but had become a “rat” in the Congress. “I’ve always been a tiger,” the chief minister roared.

“Kumaraswamy is making such remarks in desperation,” he told reporters at the Sambra Airport here before leaving for Kundargi village in Gokak taluk to attend a programme there.

On Kumaraswamy’s threat to take out a padayatra from Belagavi to Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the JD(S) leader was a “big liar” and that as an opposition party, JD(S) was free to do what it deemed fit.

Speaking to reporters at Kundargi village on the sidelines of a programme, Siddaramaiah asserted that he hadn’t denotified any land in the Arkavathi Layout nor had he committed any illegality ever since he assumed office. The accusations levelled by the Opposition are far from truth, he affirmed.

Reacting to remarks by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda that he (Siddaramaiah) had brought misfortune to the State, the chief minister said that everyone was aware as to what the former’s contribution was when he was in power. There is no need for him to learn lessons from the former prime minister, Siddaramaiah said.

Siddaramaiah also said that the government had been contemplating clamping down on lavish marriages, but the law in this regard was yet to take shape.

On the growing pressure from Congress leaders for cabinet expansion, Siddaramaiah said that it might happen any time. But he was noncommittal on when it would happen.

On a query over the demand by Excise and Belagavi district in-charge minister Satish Jarkiholi for a change of portfolio, Siddaramaiah said the matter would be taken up at the time of reshuffling portfolios. Jarkiholi was conspicuous by his absence at the Sambra airport and at the function in which the chief minister took part.

The Belagavi Bar Association submitted a memorandum to Siddaramaiah, demanding that a bench of the Karnataka Administration Bench be established in Belagavi as announced.

BJP to meet Guv after Obama’s visit

The State BJP legal cell will take an appointment to meet Governor Vajubhai Vala in connection with prosecuting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the Arkavathi row, but only after Tuesday.

According to party sources, the Governor will be busy with various Republic Day events on Monday. Secondly, the party is keen that the filing of the complaint should grab the headlines and is not drowned in news related to the three-day visit of US President Barack Obama.

The party will take up the complaint only after Obama’s visit. Obama is scheduled to leave India on Tuesday. The legal cell had planned to file its complaint through one of its advocates on Friday but the appointment request did not materialise.

Sources said while there is some division among the BJP State top brass on seeking sanction for prosecuting Siddaramaiah, the central leadership has given its go ahead to approach the Governor.

If sanction for prosecution is accorded then the party not only plans to use it as a political tool at the State-level but also nationally, to mat the Congress ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls next month, the sources added.