D K Shivakumar ‘congratulates’ BJP for accomplishing its ‘mission’

Bengaluru: Minutes after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, former minister, D.K. Shivakumar tweeted with characteristic sarcasm on Tuesday, “I congratulate my BJP friends for finally being successful in their mission of arresting me.”

He added, “The IT and ED cases against me are politically motivated and I am a victim of BJP’s politics of vengeance and vendetta. I appeal to my party cadre, supporters and well-wishers not to be disheartened as I have done nothing illegal. I have full faith in God and in our country’s judiciary and am very confident that I will emerge victorious both legally and politically against this vendetta politics.”

The Congress party and several of its leaders too tweeted in his support, claiming the arrest was planned to divert attention from the real issues concerning the country.

Strongly condemning his arrest, the Congress party tweeted, “We strongly condemn the high-handed tactics and vendetta politics being deployed against Congress leaders. The arrest of Shri @DKShivakumar is yet another attempt by the government to distract the public from their failed policies & the sorry state of the economy.”

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee said in its tweet that, “Despite full cooperation in investigation @DKShivakumar is arrested by ED. This is political vendetta & high handed tactics against @INCIndia by @BJP4India. Congress stands firmly with DKS & will fight this legally & politically.”

Former Chief Minister, Siddarmaiah tweeted that “@DKShivakumar will definitely come out clean & the whole country will understand the ulterior motives of @BJP4India. We are all with him in this difficult time & shall provide him with full support. It is just an attempt to divert the attention from structural failures of @BJP4India govt & also to prevent the voices of dissent.”