<p>Congress leader and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar, who is gearing up to get anticipatory bail (following threats of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate) said on Sunday that he was not scared of being investigated.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, Shivakumar, who left for New Delhi on Sunday to meet with senior counsels, claimed that he hadn’t committed any crime.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Accusing the BJP and the media of trying to malign his name, Shivakumar said he was a seasoned politician and ready to handle any curve ball that comes his way.</p>.<p class="CrossHead Rag"><span class="bold">‘Not a criminal’</span></p>.<p class="bodytext">“Politics is not football. It’s a game of chess and I’m well-versed in it. Why should I be scared when I haven’t done anything wrong? I’m clean, honest and dedicated. I’m being hounded by the media, which has been repeatedly saying that I will be arrested. I’m not a criminal. I don’t possess any ill-gotten wealth. But this doesn’t mean that I am naive. I came to Bengaluru to be in politics. I entered Vidhana Soudha at the age of 27 years,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar said he would cooperate with central investigation agencies as he had nothing to hide. He claimed that he neither had offshore accounts nor properties abroad.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“But yes, I have two properties in New Delhi. However, I haven’t stashed any money there. I have declared all my assets and filed the Income Tax returns. So far, I haven’t got any notice from the I-T department. In case I do, I am willing to face any probe,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Noting that he was consulting 80-odd advocates, Shivakumar said it was common for rivals to target powerful politicians.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar said the BJP was making desperate attempts to destabilise the coalition government by poaching ruling party MLAs. “Those MLAs have informed me. But I know the number game,” he said.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><span class="bold">BSY is a friend</span></p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar rubbished BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa’s claims that he hadn’t written to the Income Tax department, urging it to take action against him and his brother and MP - D K Suresh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Yeddyurappa is my friend. But I don’t know why he is denying that he wrote to the I-T department. Politically we might differ - the basic principles of both our parties is different. But we have mutual respect for each other. Ironically, Yeddyurappa too is facing many charges,” Shivakumar pointed out.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><span class="bold">‘Not trying to topple govt’</span></p>.<p class="bodytext">Reacting to Shivakumar’s remarks, Yeddyurappa said that the BJP was not making any attempt to topple the coalition government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“God knows why the Congress is so apprehensive. Many Congress leaders will soon join BJP. The party is gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls,” he added.</p>
<p>Congress leader and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar, who is gearing up to get anticipatory bail (following threats of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate) said on Sunday that he was not scared of being investigated.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, Shivakumar, who left for New Delhi on Sunday to meet with senior counsels, claimed that he hadn’t committed any crime.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Accusing the BJP and the media of trying to malign his name, Shivakumar said he was a seasoned politician and ready to handle any curve ball that comes his way.</p>.<p class="CrossHead Rag"><span class="bold">‘Not a criminal’</span></p>.<p class="bodytext">“Politics is not football. It’s a game of chess and I’m well-versed in it. Why should I be scared when I haven’t done anything wrong? I’m clean, honest and dedicated. I’m being hounded by the media, which has been repeatedly saying that I will be arrested. I’m not a criminal. I don’t possess any ill-gotten wealth. But this doesn’t mean that I am naive. I came to Bengaluru to be in politics. I entered Vidhana Soudha at the age of 27 years,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar said he would cooperate with central investigation agencies as he had nothing to hide. He claimed that he neither had offshore accounts nor properties abroad.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“But yes, I have two properties in New Delhi. However, I haven’t stashed any money there. I have declared all my assets and filed the Income Tax returns. So far, I haven’t got any notice from the I-T department. In case I do, I am willing to face any probe,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Noting that he was consulting 80-odd advocates, Shivakumar said it was common for rivals to target powerful politicians.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar said the BJP was making desperate attempts to destabilise the coalition government by poaching ruling party MLAs. “Those MLAs have informed me. But I know the number game,” he said.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><span class="bold">BSY is a friend</span></p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar rubbished BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa’s claims that he hadn’t written to the Income Tax department, urging it to take action against him and his brother and MP - D K Suresh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Yeddyurappa is my friend. But I don’t know why he is denying that he wrote to the I-T department. Politically we might differ - the basic principles of both our parties is different. But we have mutual respect for each other. Ironically, Yeddyurappa too is facing many charges,” Shivakumar pointed out.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><span class="bold">‘Not trying to topple govt’</span></p>.<p class="bodytext">Reacting to Shivakumar’s remarks, Yeddyurappa said that the BJP was not making any attempt to topple the coalition government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“God knows why the Congress is so apprehensive. Many Congress leaders will soon join BJP. The party is gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls,” he added.</p>