Refuting the opposition BJP’s declare that he recommended amending the Structure to permit religion-based reservations, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D Ok Shivakumar on Tuesday asserted that he was able to retire from politics if the accusation was confirmed true.
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.(PTI)
He accused the BJP of “spreading false claims” because of their incapability to tolerate his political stance.
“Am I mad? Those raising this issue have gone mad. BJP leaders cannot accept what I said in my interview, nor can they tolerate my political stance. Where have I spoken about changing the Constitution? It is their party members who have talked about it,” Shivakumar claimed in response to a query.
Talking to reporters, he stated, “I’m ready to retire from politics if I have ever spoken about changing the Constitution. Will they (the BJP) accept this challenge? Let them verify where I said it.”
Requested in regards to the BJP’s reported plans to protest by waving black flags at his occasions, Shivakumar stated, “They should go ahead. They have a special affection for me, which is why they do this. They can’t sleep without taking my name or creating issues related to me. So, let them continue.”
Dismissing the BJP’s allegations as “baseless”, he urged the media and political observers to observe his full interview. “Whatever they (BJP) are claiming is a lie; it holds no meaning. I urge my media and political friends to watch the entire interview from start to finish. They cannot digest the truth I speak. If I had said anything wrong, I would have admitted it,” he claimed.
Affirming that the Congress is dedicated to defending the Structure, Shivakumar accused the BJP of “attempting to divert attention” from key points by creating an uproar in Parliament over the matter on Monday.
“Are our leaders (Congress leaders) fools? They have verified my statements. I, too, have reviewed them, and so can you,” he added.
He confirmed that the Congress management in Delhi had reached out to him for clarification.
“They asked me about it, and I told them to review the video. After watching it, they were convinced. They inquired anxiously, and I provided them with the footage of my statement,” he stated.
Concerning allegations of telephone tapping raised by Congress members and opposition leaders from the BJP and JD(S), Shivakumar pointed to earlier situations of alleged telephone tapping underneath previous governments, together with in opposition to distinguished seers, which have been investigated by the CBI.
“Let the BJP government at the Centre release the CBI probe report on that matter. We can discuss the fresh allegations later,” he remarked.
On Cooperation Minister Ok N Rajanna submitting a illustration to State House Minister G Parameshwara over an alleged “honeytrap” try in opposition to him, Shivakumar stated Parameshwara, as a senior chief, would guarantee “a proper probe and deliver justice to Rajanna, the party, and those affected.”