Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jul 8: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, D K Shivakumar, stated that he has filed a defamation suit claiming a compensation of Rs 200 crore from BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for issuing nonsensical statements against him.

"I do not feel the need to convince the others about the people with whom I have contacts. Several schemes have been set into motion towards encouraging and inspiring Congress party workers to work towards bringing it back to power in the next election," he said.

Shivakumar expressed the opinion that it would be in the interests of Yatnal to immediately admit him into a hospital as he has become mentally ill. He said that if he is set free, he will go on issuing irresponsible statements. On the issue of zilla and taluk panchayat reservations, he preferred not to respond to comments made by minister C P Yogeshwar.

He said that his party has been fighting to get justice to fishermen, toddy tappers and others from the coastal region. He blamed the BJP government for failing to address the problems of poor families which have been deprived of ration facilities because of the confusion over APL and BPL card confusion. He blamed the MPs from Karnataka of not making efforts to get the GST dues to which the state is genuinely eligible. He questioned the silence of the BJP MPs including minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on the issue.

With reference to issues raised by MP Sumalatha about the cracks and other technical problems connected with KRS dam, he said that experts on the subject will give advice and work will be conducted as per their suggestions and felt that it is improper to issue statements which can create panic among the people.

Former MLA K Gopal Poojay, entrepreneur U B Shety, KPCC member Raghunandan and others were present.