Time for Quit India-like movement to make Bharat BJP-mukt, says D K Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said a Quit India-like movement is necessary in the country now to fight against ‘communal and autocratic forces.

Speaking to media persons after paying floral tributes to a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the KPCC office to mark the 81st anniversary of the Quit India movement, Shivakumar said that prior to independence, there was a Quit India movement against the British and a similar situation is confronting the country again.

“All national leaders participated in the I.N.D.I.A conclave to save India. We also discussed about these issues at the AICC meeting. Leaders of all states are now saying that the ‘Karnataka model’ should be followed. Our model is that of unity despite our personal differences. The party is more important than the individual”, the Deputy CM said.

To a question on contractors meeting BJP senior leader B S Yediyurappa, Shivakumar said they are free to meet anyone and seek guidance.

Shivakumar said that during the meeting with the Congress high command in Delhi recently, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge had stressed on all states following the ‘Karnataka model’.

Further, he said, “The BJP had given a call for a Congress-mukt Bharat, but we now should make it a BJP-mukt Bharat. We will conduct Gruha Lakshmi programmes in all wards, booths, and at the gram panchayat levels, including 198-200 places in Bengaluru, and inaugurate the scheme in Belagavi”.

On BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar writing to the Karnataka High Court registrar objecting to his participation in an involving judges, Shivakumar said he is participating on the invitation of the advocates’ association. “Why was Suresh Kumar quiet when B S Yediyurappa, as Chief Minister, participated in a similar programme though he too had several cases against him?” he asked.