Bengaluru, Oct 2 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday took strong exception to party members discussing leadership change in the state, saying such statements are “damaging the party”.
Congress MLA H D Ranganath, who is Shivakumar’s relative, and former Mandya MP L R Shivarame Gowda on Wednesday renewed the debate by claiming that Shivakumar will become the next CM of the state.
Gowda also said that it will happen in November.
“No one is permitted to speak on power sharing, including Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath. I have asked Congress state working president G C Chandrashekhar to issue notice,” Shivakumar told reporters here.
He underlined that the matter is now closed after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s assertion that he would complete his full five-year term and both leaders would abide by the high command’s decision.
Siddaramaiah had on Wednesday said he would complete full five-year term and that he would toe the party line.
Shivakumar asked, “Where is the discussion on power sharing? It’s me who is saying this. Nothing of that sort should be discussed.” “There should be no question on this. Whatever Siddaramaiah has said is final. After his statement, no one should discuss it. People who are speaking on it are damaging the party. Those speaking on his or my behalf are damaging the party and are indulging in anti-party activity. This is what is have to say,” said the Congress state president.
Reiterating the party’s disciplined stance, the Deputy CM said, “He (Siddaramaiah) has said that he will listen to the high command. We will obey the high command. We are the disciplined soldiers of our party. For us party is important, not the individual. Siddaramaiah has said he is not important but the party. We will obey what the party says. That’s what we should do.” On the BJP’s statement that its revolution is finalised, he said let the saffron party discuss its own revolution.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Shivakumar said let the opposition party focus on its internal squabbles.
“I will give them (BJP leaders) needle and thread. Let them stitch the torn portion in the party”.
To a query on BJP leaders sporting RSS uniform, Shivakumar replied let them do whatever they want.
“It may be of interest to you, but I don’t need it. We think only about the freedom of the nation,” the Deputy CM said.
Shivakumar then questioned the BJP’s commitment to secular values, referencing Mahatma Gandhi’s devotional song ‘Raghupati Raghav Raajaram…’ “Can they (BJP) say Allah? Can they repeat what Gandhi had said?” He highlighted Karnataka’s state anthem, saying there is a line ‘Hindu Christ Musalmana, Parsi Sikh Jainara Udyana’, which the BJP leaders avoid.
“Our state is a garden of peace. They (BJP) can avoid in their heart but we have put these words in the foundation of this country. They can neither avoid it nor remove it. They have to live with it,” Shivakumar said.
Meanwhile, the Congress Disciplinary Committee president in Karnataka K Rehman Khan on Thursday served show cause notices to Ranganath and Shivarame Gowda for their statements on the change of chief minister.
“You made this statement despite the AICC’s instructions not to make any public statements on this issue that may cause any confusion or embarrassment to the party,” the notice read.
“Your media statements on this issue not only cause embarrassment to the party but also lead to violation of party discipline. Taking your unruly statements seriously, a notice has been issued asking for this reason. You have been asked to provide an explanation for your statements within one week of receiving this notice,” the two leaders were told. PTI GMS KH
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