Chief minister has a violent streak in him, says Gowda

JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Saturday said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has a violent streak in him. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Gowda criticised Siddaramaiah for being "hot-tempered" and "thuggish".

"I have seen Siddaramaiah trying to assault somebody. There have been many such occasions where I have prevented him from attacking his fellow politicians in meetings. Once, he tried to hit K H Srinivas (former minister) in Shivamogga. That time also I had intervened. Unfortunately, instead of toning down his behaviour, he continues to be as hot-tempered as ever," the former prime minister added.

Earlier, speaking after inaugurating the JD(S) state legal cell executive meeting, Gowda rued that the office of the Legislative Assembly Speaker was corruption-ridden. He added that the incumbent Speaker was lowring the dignity of his office.

The elected representatives were misusing their freedom of speech and stooping to the lowest levels in the name of competition. It was difficult to set right the system, Gowda added.