From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 30: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday taunted BJP leaders if they have forgotten their campaign for ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ or the National Flag for their protest against the Mandya district administration removing the saffron flag hoisted in a government property.
“If they (BJP and JDS) have so much love for the saffron flag or Bhagwa flag, let them bring a Constitutional amendment to replace National Tricolour with their pet saffron flag as they are in power in Delhi,’’ he said speaking to media persons near his residence in Bengaluru.
Strongly defending the Mandya district administration’s decision, Shivakumar said BJP and JDS should give up their duplicity as they had sought permission to erect a flagpost to hoist national flag and Kannada flag. They went back on their request and hoisted the saffron flag, which has been removed. What is wrong in that? he asked.
Answering questions on JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy protesting with BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal leaders and workers in Mandya by wearing saffron shawls in Mandya to register the protest over the district administration’s removal of the saffron flag, “Let him (Kumaraswamy) wear anything. I have no comments on that,’’ he said.
Shivakumar, however, said Kumaraswamy has almost completely merged his party with BJP. “Why the pretense over the alliance or joining NDA. JDS should be formally merged with BJP to remove the confusion,’’ he said.
The KPCC chief said BJP has no base in Mandya and are arousing communal passions by creating tension over the saffron flag removal at Keragodu in Mandya. “BJP and JDS are together. Who knows, who will swallow whom,’’ he said.
Accusing the BJP and JDS for trying to foment communal strife in Mandya, the Deputy Chief Minister said: “The agenda of both BJP and JDS is to disrupt peace and disturb law and order situation. They are trying to rouse innocent rural people, who were known for living in communal harmony and brotherhood spirit.’’
“We are watching their games and attempts to rouse the communal experiment,’’ he said warning that the government will deal with them with a firm hand.’’
Shivakumar reiterated that the permission was taken for erecting a flagpost to hoist national flag or Kannada flag. They have given a written undertaking. What happened to their undertaking, he asked.
“The Congress government wants national flag and Kannada flag must be honoured. We have brought an ordinance making it mandatory for having Kannada signboards by all commercial establishments. The governor could have signed it to enable its enforcement. But he said, it should be discussed in the legislature and passed. The government will do it, he declared.
To a question on whether Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is contesting from Karnataka, Shivakumar dismissed it as ‘media speculation’.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the Congress candidate Puttanna will win from Teachers Constituency for the Legislative Council elections and mentioned that the government has fulfilled the demands of the teachers.
Homage to Mahatma Gandhi
The Deputy Chief Minister paid homage to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on his death anniversary by garlanding his photo at the KPCC office.
“Even though 76 years have elapsed since Gandhiji’s assassination, he is still alive through his teachings, love and peace. Mahatma Gandhi’s message of love and peace as well as non-violence has been accepted all over the world, he said.