Vinod M Jain
Highlights:
*No political significance for Delhi visit.
*Dec 8 all-party meeting may be postponed.
*Slogan shouting for and against is common in politics.
*Siddaramaiah is free to wear a watch of his liking.
Stating that his Delhi visit was to attend a private function and to oversee preparations for the Dec 14 protest against vote theft,Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar today said his visit to Delhi had no political significance.
Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, he said,“I am attending a close friend’s son’s wedding. Besides,there is also a protest against vote theft on December 14 at Ramleela maidan.
We need to make arrangements for 300 people who will visit from Karnataka.I am visiting Delhi for these reasons and will be back for the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.”He was replying to a query on the purpose of his Delhi visit.”
“The protest against vote theft started from our state. We are taking at least 30 people from each taluk and hence had a meeting with the Railway minister.We also need to make arrangements for them in Delhi,”he explained.
Dec 8 all-party meeting is likely to be postponed:
“The all-party meeting which was likely to be held in New Delhi on December 8 is postponed due to technical reasons.
We were planning to take the Opposition leaders from the state for the meeting but they are singing a different tune now.Hence,will discuss this with the CM and fix another date which is convenient for them as well,”he said.
Asked about AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal’s meeting with CM Siddaramaiah,he said, “What is wrong in CM meeting Venugopal, Rahul Gandhi or Kharge?They need to discuss party matters.”
*Sloganeering for and against is natural in politics:
Asked about his and Siddaramaiah’s fans raising slogans in favour of their leaders during K C Venugopal’s visit to Mangaluru, he said,“It is natural for fans to sloganeer.
Fans have been chanting my name for the last 10 years, there is nothing new in it.Don’t BJP workers chant Modi’s name? Similarly,Rahul’s fans chant his name and Siddaramaiah’s fans chant his name. There is nothing wrong in it, sloganeering is natural in politics.”
*Siddaramaiah is free to wear a watch of his choice*
Asked about BJP criticizing his and Siddaramaiah’s wearing of expensive watches, he said,“I had purchased my watches 7 years ago in Australia.I had made the payment of Rs.24 lakh from my personal credit card,you are free to check the transaction details.
I have also declared this in my election affidavit.I don’t know about criticism against Siddaramaiah,but he is free to wear a watch of his liking.”
Asked about Minister Satish Jarkiholi’s statement that CM may be changed after 30 months too,he said,“I am the spokesperson of myself and the party. I won’t speak about other leaders’ comments.”
