From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Belagavi, Apr 15: Sharply attacking JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy for his charge that KPCC chief D K Shivakumar allegedly “fixes rates for women and Congress government is pickpocketing the people through its guarantees,” the deputy chief minister Shivakumar said “rate fixing, blackmail, pickpocketing and hit and run is Kumaraswamy’s habit.’’
Addressing media persons at Belagavi on Monday, Shivakumar lashed out at the JD(S) leader for alleging that his opponents are also doing the same things like rate fixing, blackmailing and pickpocketing, which he has been doing all along. “Levelling false allegations and hit and run is his second nature,” said Shivakumar and attacked Kumaraswamy for fleeing to Mandya district and hurling accusations that women are going astray because of the guarantees.
Shivakumar said women have turned against Kumaraswamy for his wild allegations that they have gone astray because of the guarantees and was claiming that he was behind the anger of the women. “Mr Kumaraswamy you may be contesting from Mandya after running away from Hassan and Ramanagara. But you are not going to win under any circumstances,” he asserted.
Responding to Kumaraswamy’s claim that Congress party had toppled his father and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and the demand that chief minister Siddaramaiah must answer to the charge, Shivakumar said: “It was the Congress party which enabled Deve Gowda to become PM and Kumaraswamy to become CM. Let them come to the Assembly, I will give befitting answers to all charges.”
The KPCC chief challenged Kumaraswamy to come to the Assembly and level his charges and promised to give him a reply. “All this should be on the records and the coming generation should know what kind of liar he is. I had challenged him to raise his questions pertaining to may properties and assets. I had also asked him to bring details of the properties of all his family members. I also have records and documents as to how much property he and his family had and have amassed in and around Bengaluru. Let it be decided in the Assembly as to whether I have made money and property by looting and granite quarrying,” he said and pointed out “Kumaraswamy is famous for his hit and run tactics.”
To Deve Gowda’s charge that he (Shivakumar) is “looting from two departments,” Shivakumar said: “Both father and son are very fond of me. So they have gifted a JCB to me for looting. I know what the entire Deve Gowda-Kumaraswamy did and how they amassed wealth. Let us discuss this in the Assembly and settle the issue once and for all.”
Answering questions on Kumaraswamy’s charge that “women are paid to protest against him,” Shivakumar said: “I don’t know what he means when he says women have gone astray because of the guarantees. How can he speak so lightly against women? His allegations against women and the charge that women have gone astray are an insult to all women. I support the protesting women and call upon all women and their organisations to protest against this sexist and misogynist comments. He should be taught a lesson for speaking lightly against women.”
On Kumaraswamy’s statement that he is ready to express his regrets if women from Congress party are hurt by his remarks against women going astray because of guarantees, Shivakumar said: “Women do not need this kind of regrets and apologies. Can a person be pardoned after committing murders, assaults and robbery? If Kumaraswamy has the guts, let him ask all BJP and JD(S) women to reject the guarantees. I know he will not be able to muster even 5 women.”
Shivakumar ridiculed the BJP manifesto and declared that it has become meaningless as people know fully well that it will not be implemented.“Let all BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda disclose to the people as to what happened to the promise of crediting Rs 15 lac in each person’s bank account, bringing back all black money stashed abroad, doubling of farmers income and creating 2 crore jobs annually,” he said and pointed out the Congress party has delivered on its promises.
Shivakumar ridiculed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s claim that the Modi government has spent Rs 20 lakh crore during the Covid-19 pandemic and asked her to give a breakup of the beneficiaries. “All Covid-19 related certificates had Modi’s picture. Why wasModi’s picture affixed on the death certificates of people who died due to Covid-19? Belagavi MP Suresh Angadi’s body was disposed of by using a JCB and was not brought to his native place to allow the people to have a last glimpse of the leader,” he said and mentioned that his brother and Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh personally supervised the cremation of the people who died due to Covid-19.
Shivakumar claimed that BJP is going to lose badly in the State and asserted that a pro-Congress and guarantee wave is sweeping the State. “If BJP is so confident of Modi wave, why did the party change 14 sitting MPs and stalwarts like Karadi Sanganna, Pratap Simha, D V Sadananda Gowda, Srinivas Prasad, Nalin Kumar Kateel etc were dropped and why the BJP did not give a single ticket to Kurubas and Minorities?” he asked.
Answering questions on BJP MLA Sanjay Patil’s statement that Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar should drink a peg more to sleep well, Shivakumar said: “Our minister is strong enough to deal with hundreds of persons like Sanjay Patil. I will not answer to persons like him.”