“Corruption is the father, mother, brother, sister and relative of BJP and JDS”: Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar

Ramanagara (Karnataka) [India], August 3 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar lambasted BJP and JDS on the issue of the Muda scam and lack of accountability during their tenure and accused them of being the “father, mother, brother, sister and relative of” corruption.

Speaking at the Janandolana event, a riposte to BJP’s padayatra in Ramanagara, Shivakumar said, “Corruption is the father, mother, brother, sister and relative of BJP and JDS. The people of the State have given 135 seats for my leadership and 19 seats for Kumaraswamy’s leadership.”

“I had asked certain questions to Kumaraswamy at Bidadi on Friday. Kumaraswamy had hinted that the military would be deployed to put him in jail. I have seen Tihar jail too. I have seen the cases you have orchestrated against me and my family. After all this, the people of the state have given 135 seats to my leadership.

Speaking about Kumarswamy’s accusations about his involvement in the pen drive case , Shivakumar questioned, “Kumaraswamy had falsely accused me of being behind the Prajwal Revanna pen drive release. Now, Kumaraswamy is saying that former BJP MLA Preetham Gowda was behind the pen drive release. He had said that he would not participate in the padayatra because Preetham Gowda was involved. Why is he participating now?.”

“Why is the BJP silent on Kumaraswamy’s allegation that Preetham Gowda was involved? Why is the Prime Minister, who talks of women’s safety, not talking about it. I urge them to talk about it now,” he demanded.

“Vijayendra called me father of corruption yesterday. What did his father do to go to jail? Why did his father resign after shedding tears? Why did the Governor give permission to prosecute him when he was the CM? He should answer these questions,” he asked.

“The BJP had advertised extensively in newspapers about Deve Gowda’s land grabs. They had advertised about Muda corruption by Deve Gowda family. Now, can the BJP leaders answer these allegations,” he added.

“CM Siddaramaiah’s wife has got a gift deed from her brother. What is wrong in it? She is asking for fair compensation for the land that was encroached upon by the Muda. Is that wrong? The sites were given during BJP’s tenure. Siddaramaiah has not signed even a single paper regarding this. Muda under the BJP government made a mistake and they compensated for that by allotting sites. There is wrong doing here,” he explained.

“Kumaraswamy has said he will answer my questions. I am waiting patiently for his answers. He has to tell the people of the State about all his assets. He needs to answer how much Balakrishna’s assets were before and now. He has detailed the assets of every family member. I am not going to talk about his mining, I am not going to talk about Lokayuktha investigation against him, I am not going to talk about his file, which is with the Governor. Let him answer all the questions,” he said.

Lashing out at the BJP leader, he said, “BJP and JDS leaders are throwing stones from a glass house. BJP is utterly corrupt Who was the CM and Home minister during PSI scam? Who ruined the lives of thousands of job aspirants? The people who are demanding CM’s resignation now, never asked for resignation of the CM and HM during PSI scam,” he lashed out.

Alleging that opposition is trying to destabilise the government, Shivakumar stated, “They are trying to destabilise our government by November-December. Our government is not a pot to break it so easily. They can’t do anything to the government headed by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. They are daydreaming.”

“BJP leader Yatnal has made so many allegations. He had said that the CM’s post was sold for Rs 2,500 crores and minister’s post was sold for Rs 100 crores. BJP looted thousands of crores during Covid. He had said that Covid money had gone to Mauritius. BJP has to respond to these allegations before continuing with the padayatra. The BJP is misusing its agencies and filing cases against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Chidambaram and myself. Remember one thing: Congress is the strength behind India. The Congress will rise in India once again. Congress will come back to power in Karnataka in 2028 too,” he said.

“The BJP did not take out a padayatra for the cause of Cauvery or Mekedatu, they did not take out a padayatra for youth employment or farmers’ welfare. But they are taking out a padayatra for this,” he noted.

“Kumaraswamy has said he would create 10,000 jobs in Mandya. He also promised industries in Hassan. Our Congress government in Karnataka is ready to support you in this endeavour, keep your word,” he challenged.

“When I conducted Government at your doorstep programme at Channapatna, we got 22,000 pleas. No sites have been allotted to the people of Channapatna for 20 years. I have instructed MLA Iqbal Hussain that sites must be allotted at any cost. We are preparing for it,” he added.