Mysuru: Coming down hard on state BJP chief, B.S. Yeddyurappa for his "irresponsible statement" that yet another MLC and a minister would be exposed for their corruption, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday demanded to know if he was a spokesman of the Income Tax department.
" On what basis he is making such statements? I don't know if he has any extra-sensory powers. If he has documents, he must produce them. He can't just make hit and run statements. Being a former Chief Minister he cannot talk so lightly," he said, when asked for his response to Mr Yeddyurappa's recent warning to the government by reporters here.
As for the former Chief Minister's contention that PWD Minister, Dr H.C. Mahadevappa's son, Sunil Bose could not contest the Nanjangud byelections and the Congress party should announce its candidate, Mr Siddaramaiah shot back,
"Has the BJP announced its candidate? Mr Srinivasprasad has still not joined the party. Who is he to make such demands when they themselves don't have a candidate? "
Reacting to JDS supremo , H D Deve Gowda's objection to his statement that his party would not return to power in the state, Mr Siddaramaiah said he had only spoken the truth. "They can't come to power and they know it too. Their only hope is a hung assembly. They can't behave as if they have already come to power. Moreover it is left to the people to decide. I am convinced we will come back to power," he added.
Asked about the NEET issue, Mr Siddaramaiah said when the examination was being conducted in eight Indian languages, there was no reason why it could not be held in Kannada too.
" We will not allow Kannada to be ignored. We have already written to the authorities regarding this and have asked Medical Education Minister, Sharan Prakash Patil to meet those concerned to take things forward," he revealed.
