Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar on Monday dubbed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah a “hypocrite” and a “confused” politician.

Speaking at an event “Emergency — A Remembrance” organised at the BJP headquarters in Bengaluru, Kumar recalled that Siddaramaiah had fought against the Congress during the Jayaprakash Narayan movement. “But for the sake of power, Siddaramaiah joined the same party against whom he had fought. Today, the government he is heading is in doldrums and has failed to meet the aspirations of the people,” he said.

Kumar said Congress did not have any ideological base. “The party is opportunistic and can stoop to any level for the sake of power. Siddaramaiah has proved that he is a fit person for the party,” he said.
BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said the Congress, during the emergency period, surpassed the British in committing atrocities against the common man. “The Congress suppressed human rights during the emergency period. It is for these reasons that (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi is striving to make the country a ‘Congress free’ nation,” he said. The event was held on the 42nd anniversary of the imposition of Emergency.