Bengaluru, April 23: By equating a Lingayath chief minister with corruption, Congress leader Siddaramaiah into controversy.
While responding to a question from a scribe, Siddaramaiah said, “Now, we have a Lingayatj chief minister. He has indulged in corruption and destroyed the state.”
BJP was quick to dub Siddaramaiah’s statement as “anti-Lingayath” and tore the Congress leader.
Revenue Minister R. Ashok said the statement of Siddaramaiah demonstrates his arrogance and anti-Lingayath attitude.
“After this election Congress will be completely finished. This is height of arrogance,” Ashok added.
Siddaramaiah, however, clarified that his response was “specific and precise” pointing to Basavaraj Bommai and should not attributed to the entire community.
“The entire state has seen how this BJP made B. S. Yediyurappa cry. The BJP has insulted Lingayath leaders and hence senior leaders such as Jagadish Shettar, Lakshman Savadi and Ayanur Manjunath have walked out of the party,” Siddaramaiah said.
The BJP, on its part, has decided to make Siddaramaiah’s statement as a big poll issue.
“Siddaramaiah has painted the entire community in black and portrayed the community in negative light. This is reprehensible. We will take up the issue in a big way,” BJP spokesman Dr Narendra Rangappa told The Newz Peg.
EOM.
