Leaders engage in mutual recrimination

The war of words among political parties seems to be getting more fierce ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, with former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of collecting “hafta” for grants released for works pertaining to Bangalore city development.

Within hours of the charge, Siddaramaiah vehemently denied the allegation and in turn accused Gowda of becoming desperate due to his apprehension of losing the elections.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event, Gowda charged Siddaramaiah of demanding 30 per cent hafta or commission for the Rs 400-crore grants released for development works. 

“We do not have such habits. What evidence does Gowda have to make such allegations. I can also state that Gowda collected commission when he was chief minister,” Siddaramaiah countered.

Siddaramaiah stuck to his comments on former prime minister H D Deve Gowda getting emotional at the drop of a hat. “We are here to serve the people. What is there to cry,” he questioned.

On Gowda’s comments that he knew who was behind the defeat of KPCC President G Parameshwara, Siddaramaiah said, “I have never worked against the party. It is an internal matter of the party, Deve Gowda need not worry about it”.

JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda said that he was shocked to hear the way Siddaramaiah was speaking.

“The chief minister says that I cry to get sympathy and votes. I will never indulge in such things. I have faced victory as well as defeat. Tears roll when I see the difficulties of the people. A person who understands feelings of people will become emotional. It is evident that Siddaramaiah can’t understand the feelings of people,” he said.