Kumaraswamy unable to digest Shivakumar as Chief Minister, says Sharan Prakash Patil

Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Union Minister and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, accusing him of using language unbecoming of his office in his criticism of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge. Mr. Patil alleged that Mr. Kumaraswamy was unable to digest Mr. Shivakumar’s elevation as Chief Minister.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress office in Kalaburagi, Mr. Patil said Mr. Kumaraswamy’s remarks against the Chief Minister and the Home Minister were inappropriate for a Union Minister and former Chief Minister.

“He is challenging the Home Minister to take action against workers of his party, the Janata Dal (Secular), in connection with the alleged sting operation targeting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The State government will not bow to such threats. Notices have been issued to the JD(S) workers, and the government has the resolve to deal with such matters,” Mr. Patil said.

Questioning Mr. Kumaraswamy’s frequent interventions in State politics, Mr. Patil asked whether he had no responsibilities to attend to as a Union Minister or if he had been given a portfolio with little work.

“He begins his day by attacking the Congress government, particularly the Chief Minister and the Home Minister. Does he have no work as a Union Minister?” Mr. Patil asked.

On protests against SIR

On the protests by the Congress and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Mr. Patil said the two organisations were on the same page.

He alleged that eligible voters were being removed from electoral rolls in the name of the SIR and said young people had the constitutional right to protest peacefully against such deletions.

Accusing the Union government of using force to suppress the demonstrations instead of addressing the concerns raised by the protesters, Mr. Patil said that the Delhi Police had brought in anti-social elements to provoke violence and create a pretext for action against peacefully protesting students and youth.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government led by him are undermining parliamentary democracy,” he said.

‘Centre discriminating against Karnataka in drought relief’

On drought relief, Mr. Patil accused the BJP-led Union government of delaying the release of funds to Karnataka and discriminating against the State because it was governed by the Congress. He said the State government was prepared to contribute its share towards drought-relief measures, but alleged that the Centre had not released its share.

“As you know, the Congress government in the State had to approach the court in the past, demanding its share of funds from the BJP government in the Centre. The court had reprimanded the BJP government at the Centre and had ordered the release of funds,” Mr. Patil said.

When asked why the Centre was withholding funds, Mr. Patil alleged that the BJP was seeking to avenge its defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections. “The people of Karnataka defeated the BJP in the 2023 elections, and the party is now taking revenge on them by withholding funds meant for the State,” he said.

Radhakrishna Doddamani, Kalaburagi MP, Allamaprabhu Patil, Kalaburagi South MLA, Jagadev Guttedar, MLC, Kiran Deshmukh, District Congress Committee president, Praveen Patil Harwal, Gescom Chairman, and party leaders Timmayya Purle, Shivanand Patil and Renuka Singe were among those present.