Belagavi: Shivakumar, Vijayendra Lock Horns Over State Finances
The Deputy Chief Minister also challenged Vijayendra to raise his allegations on the floor of the House instead of making statements outside. “Instead of evading the ongoing session, let him come to the Assembly. I will respond to him appropriately,” he said.
Belagavi: A sharp war of words broke out between BJP state president BY Vijayendra and KPCC president and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday, with both leaders trading accusations over the State’s finances and alleged corruption.
Responding to Vijayendra’s allegation that the Congress government was trying to appease the party high command by “emptying the State treasury,” Shivakumar hit back, dubbing the BJP leader the “collection king” and alleging that he was responsible for the erosion of his father BS Yediyurappa’s political standing.
“As a party president, he should speak responsibly. He lacks experience and the treasury is not empty. Should I disclose details of his collection business, transactions and accounts?” Shivakumar asked, speaking to reporters at the Circuit House.
The Deputy Chief Minister also challenged Vijayendra to raise his allegations on the floor of the House instead of making statements outside. “Instead of evading the ongoing session, let him come to the Assembly. I will respond to him appropriately,” he said.
Reacting to BJP’s charge that Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar had misled the House on payments under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Shivakumar dismissed the allegation, saying the government had been releasing the assistance regularly for the past 24 months.
“What false information has she given? The funds are released by the Finance Department and credited to beneficiaries. There is nothing false in it,” he said, accusing the Opposition of trying to divert public attention. He claimed the BJP was rattled as the government intended to raise the issue of alleged harassment of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case.
Meanwhile speaking to reporters Vijayendra questioned Shivakumar’s moral authority to speak about corruption.
“If he has something to reveal, let him do so. He should control his tongue while speaking about me. Let him ask within Congress circles whether he has the credibility to speak on corruption,” Vijayendra said.
Defending his remark on the State’s finances, the BJP leader said the government was facing an unprecedented fiscal situation.
“If not an empty treasury, what else should we call it? No government has faced such a bad financial condition. When we say the treasury is empty, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister get angry,” he said.
Vijayendra also cautioned Shivakumar against attempting to intimidate him.
“Let him not try to threaten me like he does others. I am an elected representative and the state president of a national party. As a person holding a responsible constitutional position, he should speak in the House,” he said.
He further said he would soon place details before the public on what he described as a political conspiracy against former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, including who hatched the plot and how he was forced to step down.
Responding to Shivakumar’s remark that he should attend the Assembly session, Vijayendra said he did not need lessons from the Deputy Chief Minister.
“I have been attending the session regularly. I was absent only for two days due to a Delhi tour. I do not need to learn from him,” he added.
