Cong's success in Gujarat: CM avoids queries on DKS' role

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah played it safe by avoiding any queries on whether Energy Minister D K Shivakumar would assume a larger role following the success of the Congress in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections.

He instead abruptly cut short the media interaction and exited the Lalitha Mahal Palace helipad.
The interaction was to be held soon after his arrival from Chamarajanagar to attend various programmes in Mysuru on Thursday.

He earlier clarified that there was no proposal before the government to denotify any lake.
“It is the handiwork of some vested interests who are behind the propaganda that the government was denotifying some lakes. Some lakes like Dharmambudhi Lake on which the Kempegowda Bus Terminal now stands in the Majestic area of Bengaluru are still in the list of lakes. It was  discussed that the lakes which cannot be revived should be dropped from the list. There was no discussion on denotifying any existing lake,” he said.

When asked about the grapevine on possible Income Tax raids on the premises of Congress ministers in the near future, Siddaramaiah said that there is no need to panic if there is an I-T raid.

“We do not fear an I-T raid. Raids are an exercise of the I-T department. They check and cross-check if an I-T assessee has paid the taxes properly. But, it has come to my notice that the BJP government is targetting Congress leaders. Such witch-hunting cannot be tolerated,” he said.

Speaking about drought and farmers’ problems, he said that a letter has been written to the Centre to change the norms for payment of drought compensation to farmers under the Natural Disaster Relief Fund because a few new norms are not in the interest of the farmers.

In reply to a query on allegations that he had reduced fund allocations to Hindu temples, Siddaramaiah said that a temple is a temple and there is only one god. So, there is no question about discriminating among temples, he said.

Dignitary for Dasara
The chief minister did not divulge details of the dignitary who would inaugurate the Dasara celebration atop the Chamundi Hill on September 21.

He said that District in-charge Minister H C Mahadevappa would announce the name on Saturday during the Gajapayana.

Chamarajanagar in-charge Minister U T Khader and Chairman of Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited H A Venkatesh were present.