Stop evil forces working against CM: Umashree

Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree on Sunday called upon the backward classes to prevent evil forces trying to topple Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

“The backward classes should support Siddaramaiah and stop those making efforts to change his leadership,” she said, addressing a convention of the Bhovi community on the outskirts of the City. The chief minister was also present at the meet.

“Siddaramaiah is a leader of the backward classes. He has been doing good work as chief minister and taking everybody together,” Umashree, who is a close confidante of Siddaramaiah, said.

The minister’s statement has raised eyebrows in the State political circles. It has been speculated that the Congress high command had taken note of the State BJP’s plan to seek the governor’s sanction for prosecuting Siddaramaiah in the Arkavathi Layout denotification issue. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had recently summoned Sidda ramaiah to Delhi and held a closed-door meeting with him.

The BJP has accused the chief minister of denotifying 541 acres of BDA land meant for Arkavathi Layout in Bengaluru. Besides, a section of the State Congress leaders has been expressing their wish to see a dalit as the chief minister.

Later, Siddaramaiah said a board for the development of the Bhovi community would be set up in the State. Representation would be given to the community in the Karnataka Public Service Commission, he said.