MYSURU: A heated exchange between Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy continued today, and has sparked a controversy.
Reacting JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s tweets, Shivakumar said, “I am ready to debate this topic (bringing Kanakapura under Bengaluru district) anywhere, even in the Assembly”. Talking to the media on Wednesday, he said, “Kumaraswamy should not fire in the air. I need just three to four day and I will be ready for an open discussion with him. I am prepared to talk about the allegations of dividing Ramanagara district, I don’t have any problem with it”.
“There may be uneducated people and even those without intelligence, but people should at least have common sense. I thought Kumaraswamy, who was CM twice earlier, has basic common sense, but he doesn’t. He should check about the history of Ramanagara district with his father before tweeting on the issue. Only mad people can divide Ramanagara. They may be doing that work, but I want to unite Bengaluru. I want to give a clear structure to the city”, he said.
Shivakumar said that his proposal was legitimate and dismissed Kumaraswamy’s claims of dividing Ramanagara district as drama aimed at discrediting his intentions. His plan to include Kanakapura under Bengularu was met with severe criticism from Kumaraswamy, who accused him of trying to boost property values around Kanakapura and increase his personal wealth.
“Bengluru is ours”, Shivakumar said thrice during an event yesterday and said the Adichunchanagiri Shivakumara Swamiji and Kempegowda were all born in Ramanagara. “We are all from Bengaluru. Mysore University is more important than Mandya University and Bangalore University”, he said.
“Many people in Ramanagara are selling their property. People from Magadi, Ramanagara, Channapatna belong to Bengaluru. Do not sell your properties, I am telling you to protect it. Do you know what the price of land in Kanakapura is after I came into the Kanakapura? There is nothing urgent about this matter. Don’t bother about Kumaraswamy’s talks. It doesn’t matter what I will do. Whatever our government does, that’s all which matters. Here, no one is stealing from anyone. Let Kumaraswamy keep the credit for forming Ramanagara” he said.
“I am making this statement on Vijayadashami day, an auspicious occasion. Ramanagara district was created with four taluks and there is a need to protect it. All the sewage of Bengaluru city is coming to these taluks”, he had added.