‘Bande is danger’, says Union minister HD Kumaraswamy in indirect dig at Shivakumar

BENGALURU: In an indirect dig at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday remarked that ‘bande’ (rock) is dangerous.

“Landslides have occurred in Wayanad, Western Ghats and Kodagu, but did rocks provide protection? Many people died due to landslides caused by rocks. The time is not far when this will happen in Karnataka too. D K Shivakumar is indirectly responsible for the situation Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is facing”, Kumaraswamy said.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on the issue of the governor granting permission for prosecution against the CM, Kumaraswamy said, “Congress people are asking why permission for prosecuting me hasn’t been given. But, who has complained to the governor against me? They show the Constitution book in Parliament. Now, what are you doing against the governor’s authority? I will face it alone if there is a charge against me. I have not protested by ignoring my party workers”.

Kumaraswamy claimed that the complaint against him in the Janthakal mining case had been dismissed. “An investigation was ordered into the Sai Venkateshwara case. Activist T J Abraham had filed a case against me, S M Krishna and Dharam Singh in the Supreme Court, but Krishna secured stay order”, he said.

“Now, who has stopped you from going to the Supreme Court if you have not done anything wrong and have integrity? What have you achieved by protest?” Kumaraswamy questioned. “I have challenged them to investigate me. They are searching for the Gangenahalli case. I have no connection to it. Why are you blaming the the Centre? Your own people are working to bring you down. Your own people have conspired to bring you down”, he claimed.

“I have not misused any institution under the Constitution framed by Ambedkar. But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah got protection in many cases by weakening the Lokayukta, setting up the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and  transferring the cases to it. To whom have you given the Arkavathy Layout redo? Siddaramaiah has supported me by speaking in my favor and has got protection. They have sought permission for prosecution to intimidate me. I will not resign. There is law in the country and everything will happen according to law. You have ruined the government in one-and-half years. Your MLAs are saying that there is no development. Don’t ruin the state to save one person”, Kumaraswamy said.

“The CM’s chair is safe. But if he loses control, he cannot sit on the chair again. How long will he do politics by getting protection from caste politics?” Kumaraswamy questioned.