JOIN USChief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Sunday, claimed that BJP president Amit Shah and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy had met recently, triggering sharp reactions from the two parties.
Siddaramaiah, while addressing a Congress rally in Belagavi on Sunday, charged that Shah and Kumaraswamy travelled together in a flight recently. The meeting of the two leaders showed that the BJP and the JD(S) had entered into a tacit understanding, the chief minister said.
Kumaraswamy denied the charge and retaliated against the chief minister, saying that the latter should speak in a manner befitting the post he holds. His statement is baseless, Kumaraswamy said. “Why should I meet Shah? I have not reached such a bad situation. Let him produce documentary evidence if he has any,” the former chief minister said, addressing reporters while campaigning at Bevur in Channapatna, Ramanagar district.
“Let him speak the truth or we may have to conclude that Siddaramaiah made the statement when he was drunk,” he added.
The party, in a press release, said, “A fake air ticket is being circulated in media circles to prove that Shah travelled with Kumaraswamy. So, we have released a similar fake air ticket showing Siddaramaiah and Zameer Ahmed Khan travelled from Karachi to Bengaluru.”
Later, speaking to media persons, Siddaramaiah reiterated his claim that Shah and Kumaraswamy travelled in the same plane to Delhi and said he would release the relevant documents at an appropriate time.
“If at all documents are needed, photographs will be availed and released, but at an appropriate time,” Siddaramaiah said.
In Bengaluru, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje demanded that Siddaramaiah should tender an apology if he failed to prove his charge. “Siddaramaiah should release documents to prove his charges. The state intelligence department comes under the chief minister. So, he can easily produce the documents,” she told reporters.