Daijiworld Media Network - Vijayapura (SP)

Vijayapura, Apr 17: The friction between ministers, state water resources minister, D K Shivakumar and home minister, M B Patil, over the issue of tendering public apologies by the latter for pursuing separate Lingayat religion status issue seems to be aggravating. Patil has now said that D K Shivakumar has inflicted maximum damage to the Congress on account of his behaviour and conduct in Mysuru region. He accused Shivakumar of now unnecessarily visiting north Karnataka to spoil the party's chances here. He vowed to unravel the ulterior designs of Shivakumar after April 23.

M B Patil and D K Shivakumar - File photo

The home minister was addressing a press meet here on Tuesday April 16. "Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, had instructed both of us against raising the topic of Lingayat religion publicly. I have been abiding by this instruction. But Shivakumar once again went against the KPCC president's directive by openly stating that he stands by his earlier apology on behalf of the party for trying to divide Lingayat. Therefore, I am now compelled to respond to what he has said," he explained.

Patil said he does not want to embarrass the party at a time when election is close by. He advised Shivakumar to keep his own house in order before poking his nose in the affairs relating to Lingayat religion. He accused the water resources minister of unnecessary creating a tricky situation for the Lingayat community by making meaningless allegations. "There is a conspiracy behind his utterances. I will let you know about it after April 23," he announced.

At the same time, MLC, Basavaraj Horatti, speaking at a press conference at Haveri, insisted that election and fight for separate religion tag for Lingayat are not inter-connected. He therefore felt that neither M B Patil nor D K Shivakumar need to speak about it during the election.