I am a clerk of people of Karnataka, not of Congress: Karnataka CM

Bengaluru: Strongly objecting to Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, claiming he had been reduced to a mere clerk in the coalition government in the state,  Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy asserted on Friday that he was not a clerk of the Congress party, but of the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters in Chennarayapatna town, Hassan district, Mr Kumaraswamy said Mr Shah should not have made such a statement.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks of putting behind bars those who possess black money,  but his own state party president was offering crores of rupees to woo the MLAs of our party. Anyone, who hears the tape will easily identify the voice recorded as that of Mr Yeddyurappa. I want to know from where the BJP got the money to offer to MLAs of other parties. As people want an answer to this, Mr  Shah is trying to divert attention by raking up other issues. My government is safe and will not fall as claimed by the BJP leaders,” he asserted.

Turning philosophical, Mr Kumaraswamy said  God had decided  how many years he would stay in his post and nobody could change that. “We have provided good governance over the last eight months and this is enough to win the love and affection of the people,” he added.

Asked about Hassan BJP MLA, Preetham Gowda’s comments on JDS patriarch, H D Deve Gowda, he said the antecedents of the supporters of the legislator were enough to reveal the truth. “I am not a person, who would send his men to kill anyone. But the BJP leaders are trying to portray me in a bad light. People know who I am and what my nature is," he added.