Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 9: BJP leaders have converged in the city for the core committee meeting scheduled to begin at 12.30 pm on Thursday November 9 and Parivartana rally being held tomorrow.
Union minister for statistics and programme implementation, D V Sadananda Gowda, referring to the report of offer extended by income tax officials raiding the properties of minister, D K Shivakumar, asking him to join BJP, termed it as unsubstantiated and untrue. "Many people are joining BJP, having been convinced by the strong principles. Right from Shankar Sinh Waghela to Yogeshwar, people have made a beeline to come into BJP. We welcome anyone who wants to join us. At the same time, BJP is not in such dire straits as to threaten and coerce someone to join the party," he said.
D V Sadananda Gowda, B S Yeddyurappa
Gowda added that BJP does not extend red carpet welcome to anyone and people have to join on their own. About the core committee meeting scheduled today, he said that issues relating to election and Parivartana rally will be discussed there.
Former chief minister of Karnaraka and state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, who arrived at Hotel Ocean Pearl here for taking part in the core committee meeting today afternoon, dismissed talk of Shivakumar joining BJP as profound lies. "We have no proposal to welcome him into our party. Chief minister is issuing false statements just to confuse people. This is part of political conspiracy hatched by the chief minister. He is shaken at the extent of popular support our Parivaratana rally is getting everywhere," he claimed.
About certain statements issued by party leader, Sogadu Shivanna, against him, Yeddyurappa said that this issue has been brought to the notice of top leadership of the party, who will take up the matter with Shivanna.
Commenting on Tipu Jayanti being celebrated on Friday, Yeddyrappa clarified that he has no objection at all in organizing it as private function. He stressed that he and his party are opposed to celebrating Tipu Jayanti as a government programme. "There is no difference between Tipu Jayanti and Hitler Jayanti. As BJP will rise to power in the state, this will be the last Tipu Jayanti they will be celebrating," he stated.