Daijiworld Media Network - Bagalakote (SP)
Bagalakote, Sep 9: Speaking to media persons here on Sunday September 8, state BJP president, Nalin Kumar Kateel, expressed the suspicion that former chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, would have played a role in the arrest of former minister, D K Shivakumar, by the enforcement directorate.
"We have suspicion about the role played by Siddaramaiah in this case. He was behind the registration of case against Shivakumar. Sensing that Shivakumar is growing into a powerful leader, Siddaramaiah has resorted to politics of revenge. The state was ruled by the Congress in 2017 when income tax raid happened on Shivakumar. If he wanted it, Siddaramaiah could have blocked the raid," he felt. He pointed out that Shivakumar has not been arrested either by the Lokayukta or the state government.
He claimed that the BJP does not support political vengeance. He pointed out that if political score was to be settled, Shivakumar could have been jailed before the assembly election.
Nalin said that enforcement directorate and income tax departments go by the records in their investigations. "They are autonomous institutions. BJP had not initiated them. Shivakumar has been charged with corruption. The Congress leaders are speaking recklessly just to save their faces," he reasoned.
On the issue of by-polls in 17 assembly constituencies in respect of disqualified MLAs, Nalin said that his party is ready to go to poll. He compared every election as a kind of war for political parties, duly acknowledging that techniques are very important in wars. "We will employ right techniques in these assembly constituencies and secure victory for our candidates," he asserted.
Nalin said that after the floods in the state, Yediyurappa had conducted whirlwind tour of the state. Noting that the affected people have been given temporary compensation of Rs 10,000 each, he mentioned that the government had declared compensation of five lac rupees to those who lost their houses. "Amit Shah visited our state. Funds would be released on the basis of survey report. Once the report is received, the central government will release amounts needed to disburse compensation," he added.
On the criticism on his appointment made by party leader and MLA, Basangouda Patil Yatnal, he said he would treat this statement as a guiding principle. "He was right in noting that I was active only in Mangaluru and Udupi. I also worked as party in-charge for Kerala. Now I have been given the responsibility of the state president of the BJP. I will tour all over Karnataka and organize the party," he explained.
He clarified that there are no differences of opinion between himself and the chief minister, and that no differences had cropped up between himself and Yediyurappa at the core committee meeting. "Yediyurappa is my guide. We held good discussions on the issue of organizing the party. Some 'News planters' have created the news about rift between us," he narrated.