Bengaluru, 27 Nov

Karnataka Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha on Thursday warned the Congress High Command that it will fight vehemently if injustice happens to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is aspiring to become CM.

Shivakumar, the Congress State President, belongs to the dominant agrarian community of Vokkaliga.

“During the assembly election, Shivakumar had toiled hard, toured across the State, strengthened the organisation and due to his efforts the Congress got 140 seats and won the polls,” Sangha President L Srinivas said. “We from Vokkaliga Sangha request the Congress High Command to at least give him ‘Coolie’ (a token of reward) to Shivakumar for the efforts he has put in.”

He noted reports that the Congress High Command had earlier promised Shivakumar that he will be made the Chief Minister after Siddaramaiah completes two-and-half years term.

Requesting the Congress high command to fulfil the promise made to Shivakumar, Srinivas said the Deputy CM had also spent time in jail for the party.

“No injustice should happen to the disciplined soldier of the Congress party. We from Vokkaliga Sangha on behalf of the Vokkaliga pontiffs assert that we will vehemently fight if injustice happens to Shivakumar,” he said.

Siddaramaiah had been the CM for five years during his previous stint and now this time, he completed two-and-half years, Srinivas, the former Bengaluru deputy mayor, added.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar said that he will go to New Delhi if the High Command calls him. He added that he was going to Mumbai on Friday.

AHINDA communities warn Congress  

The Karnataka State Federation of Backward Class Communities (KSFBCC) has warned Congress that any attempt to unseat Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the wake of infighting in the Congress will have a bearing on the party.

Addressing reporters here, KSFBCC President KM Ramachandrappa said AHINDA (acronym for minorities backward classes and Dalits communities) is deeply pained to see the development taking place.

Ramachandrappa replied to Karnataka Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha President L Srinivas’s “coolie” (reward) remark and said DK Shivakumar has already got “Coolie” as the Deputy Chief Minister. He also expressed disappointment that religious bodies were entering the discussion.

"These threats are not new ones but have been happening for very long time. Since the independence it has been happening. We the downtrodden community will not bow down to these threats," KSFBCC president said.

Expressing his fear, he said, "Those against the caste census can unseat the Chief Minister, we can only assume how they will behave with our communities".

He added that they are witnessing the way AHINDA communities are being treated and are getting representation in the government and society. "If this development continues further, then we warn that it will be problematic for Congress in the coming days. AHINDA category will not sit idly.”

“If the pontiffs and the Vokkaliga Sangha is ready to stage agitation then we will also not leave our leader,” he added. “The 70 per cent population of AHINDA communities… will not tolerate attempts to bring down a leader from the AHINDA community.”

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah held a meeting withx senior ministers and leaders considered close to him including G Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi, HC Mahadevappa, K Venkatesh and K N Rajanna at his residence here, according to official sources.