BELAGAVI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi threw a challenge to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar saying that he was ready for a ‘war’ and would even come to Kanakapura, if needed. Jarkiholi also said he was strong enough to take on his opponents even if 100 more CDs are released.
Addressing a massive rally at Ankalagi in Gokak Assembly constituency on Sunday, Jarkiholi alleged that Shivakumar was exerting pressure on some ministers in the BJP government to join the Congress by threatening to release their CDs too. He also said that Shivakumar’s ‘CD partner’ was in Belagavi and that a driver and car owner had joined the group, in an indirect reference to MLC Channaraj Hattiholi, who is the brother of Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar.
“Jarkiholi will fight, but will not conspire. I will not touch upon anyone’s personal lives. I have evidence, but I will not release it. Shivakumar’s wife is like by sister, and I wouldn’t want to disturb the family. I have suffered and come out of this mess, but no one else should suffer”, he said.
“You can imagine what will happen to the state if power goes into the hands of such a man. There will be one more ‘DK Shi’ toll on people. A new government will be in place in the first or second week of May and the BJP will be back in power whateve the promises Congress makes of guarantees that it gives. They may only be able to give 10 kg of rice free to the poor since the Union government is already supplying 7 kg rice per BPL card holder. The free 200 units of power and Rs 2,000 to the woman head of family the Congress has promised is all false”, Jarkiholi said. “Come what may, we will not allow the Congress to form the government. The BJP will come back to power with full majority, ” he added.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party national president Amit Shah have warned the BJP leaders not to make false promises to the people. “Instead of making false, promised, it’s better to sit in the opposition. But self-proclaimed leaders are going on making promises”, he said in an indirect reference to Lakshmi Hebbalkar and D K Shivakumar.
Earlier, Jarikohi arrived in an open vehicle for the rally held near the Ankalagi Adavi Siddeshwara temple. A bike rally was also taken out from the bus stand to the temple.
Meanwhile, reacting to Jarkiholi’s statements, Shivakumar said, “I will not speak anything about a mental hospital candidate. I am not aware of what is happening in their party”.