Panchamasali Lingayat community: “Government doesn’t want injustice to any….,” says Shivakumar

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 19 (ANI): Stating that the Karnataka government doesn’t want injustice to any community, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said another round of discussion would be held with the leaders of Panchamasali Lingayat community to sort out reservation issues.

“Our government believes in justice for all communities. The reservation issue is in court and the government can’t intervene at this juncture. We will hold discussions with Panchamasalis in the days to come,” he said on Friday, while speaking to reporters after a meeting with leaders of Panchamasali Lingayat community.

“The CM has clearly told that it is not possible to give a timeline for the reservation. The previous BJP government hurt many communities in the process of hurrying through reservation. The BJP government later filed an affidavit in the court that it would not implement the new reservation. In this backdrop, our government can’t intervene in court matters,” he added.

“Model Code of Conduct is in effect now and we told the leaders of Panchamasali community that we would call them for a meeting once the elections are over. We understand their urgency and we will hold discussions with them in the future,” he said.

Asked about statements of Panchamasali leaders that they would continue their protest, he said, “We can’t say anything to those who want to protest.”

Asked about JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s allegation that Special Investigation Team (SIT) is ‘Shivakumar Investigation Team’, he said, “Kumaraswamy needs to remember me every once in a while, else he will have sleeplessness. He and his brothers keep remembering me hence. They are searching for my documents, but all my documents are with the CBI. Had he asked me, I would have given it to him myself.”

Replying to queries on ED raids on Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), he said, “ED may be gathering information, how can you call it a raid. They may ask for certain documents and review them. What else can be done? No tweaking of the documents is possible as all the documents in the case are public already. We will fight this legally and place the truth before the public.”

Asked about his statement that ED raids were politically motivated, he said, “The case is in the court now. As per the information I received, they have asked for certain information and I don’t know whether those documents have been given or not. Perhaps, they may have gone to Muda to collect those documents themselves.

Referring to statements and counterstatements on a revival of NICE corridor, he said, “Let Kumaraswamy first disclose his assets along the NICE road, I will talk about it at an appropriate time.”