Daijiworld Media Network - Ramanagara (SP)

Ramanagara, Sep 12: "I did not have invitation to the protest programme organized at Bengaluru on Wednesday in protest against the arrest of D K Shivakumar. Moreover, I had to take part in the pre-determined programme at Channapatna. Therefore I remained away from the said protest," explained former chief minister of the state H D Kumaraswamy.

He was responding to queries made by media during his visit to Channapatna for not taking part in the protest supported by Vokkaliga organizations at Bengaluru.

"I was unaware about such a protest being held. The organizers planned the programme in a hurry without informing me. I would have participated if I had got invitation sufficiently in advance. As per my instructions, my party workers and leaders took part in it," he clarified.

He noted that during the protest, the participants had used his photo, duly mentioning that plans are afoot to arrest him, as he too happens to be a Vokkaliga leader. "But no one can harm me because I have done nothing wrong. There is no chance for mistakes in my life," he claimed.

Although Kumaraswamy gave clarification for his absence from the protests, several eyebrows were raised for his non-participation in the protest against Shivakumar's arrest. Because after the coalition government was formed, Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar, who were political adversaries in the past, had come closer and worked together. Shivakumar had worked hard to retain the coalition government with Kumaraswamy at its helm. Shivakumar and G Parameshwar were known to be staunch supporters of Kumaraswamy. Recently, Kumaraswamy had visited the residence of Shivakumar and infused courage and confidence in the leader's mother Gowramma.