JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy has charged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while claiming himself to be a follower of Basavanna, is indulging in caste politics.

He was participating in a discussion on demands for grants by various departments in the Legislative Assembly on Friday. He did not name which caste has been  favoured or targeted by Siddaramaiah. However, he dropped sufficient hints that the chief minister was after the Vokkaligas.

“Those who grew up with Deve Gowda and stayed with us for decades, have now ensured that a case is filed against me. Let them file 10 cases. I am ready to face them. Those who claim in public that they are followers of Basavanna, should know how their conduct is. They should listen to their conscience.”

Kumaraswamy said those who came to power by promising transparent governance, have appointed a former police officer (Kempaiah) as security advisor to the home minister. “He took VRS after realising that the Intelligence wing in 2009 had given a report which was not favourable to him. He had cited personal reasons for moving out of the service. How can he work now? Whom are you protecting?” he asked.

Giving another example, Kumaraswamy said a blind person was selected for tahsildar post in 2011. Due to caste reasons, the appointment was scrapped. But the same blind person has secured 340th rank in the UPSC exam, he pointed out.

has been misled in his case. “Many are in glasshouse. But I am not. I am confident that I would occupy that (chief minister’s) post. I know what I should do then. I have never indulged in hate politics,” he said.

His sarcastic remarks, obviously targeted at Siddaramaiah, comes after the JD(S) supported the BJP in the Legislative Council to defeat the resolution moved by the Congress to oust D H Shankaramurthy as Chairman.

The JD(S) leader said the media has been speculating that he would go to jail (in Janthakal mining case) and he is in distress. “I have done no wrong. I have patience. I am ready to face anything.”