Chief minister slams JD(S) for supporting Shankaramurthy

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has slammed the JD(S) for not supporting the no-trust resolution moved by the Congress against Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy, saying it has shown its “true colours” by joining with “communal forces”.

Speaking to journalists here on Friday, Siddaramaiah said he and KPCC president G Parameshwara had sought the support of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda (on supporting the no-trust resolution) and he responded positively. The JD(S), however, ditched the Congress at the last minute to “align with communal forces”, he said. He further said the secular commitment of the JD(S) stood “exposed” by such an act.

The chief minister clarified that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi hadn’t given any oral directions to the state government on waiving crop loans taken by farmers from co-operative banks.

Refering to the state-wide strike by private medical establishments in protest against the Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to fix rates in hospitals, he said the amendment was aimed at helping people.

Siddaramaiah clarified that he was not visiting the Krishna Temple in Udupi for the inauguration of Kanaka Gopura on Sunday. Vishweshateertha Swami, the head of Pejawar Mutt, had said on Thursday that he had invited the chief minister, along with President Pranab Mukherjee, to the temple that day and it was up to him to come.