Kuvempu wouldn't have let Shah visit Kuppali: Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that if poet laureate Kuvempu was alive, the writer would not have allowed BJP president Amit Shah to visit Kuppali, the native place of the poet.

Referring to Shah's recent visit to Kuppali, the chief minister said Kuvempu believed in 'universal man' concept and advocated communal harmony through his works. But, Shah's beliefs are against it, Siddaramaiah said at a rally here.

He appealed to voters of Shivamogga no to back the BJP in the coming polls as its state president B S Yeddyurapppa has tarnished the image of the district by indulging in corruption. Three other former chief ministers who hailed from the district, the late Kadidal Manjappa, the late S Baggarappa and the late J H Patel did not sully the image of the district when they were in power.

Referring to areca growers' issue, the chief minister said Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel has stated in Parliament that arecanut was injurious to health. It seems that she has no idea that areca is different from gutka. He assured that the Congress is committed to safeguard the interests of areca growers.

He said he had released Rs 85 crore for the welfare of areca growers.