'By not inviting me, Modi has exhibited cheap politics'

Accusing the Narendra Modi government of “petty politics”, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that he had not received an invite for the Prime Minister’s official programme in Hubballi-Dharwad.

“Till now no officials have come to invite me. Karnataka shares 50% of the amount for railway projects. We need not say anything to point at the Prime Minister’s petty behaviour. I have no objection to them doing their party event. But they don’t have the basic courtesy to invite for the government programme that he (Modi) is attending, despite having projects that has state government’s assistance. They are indulging in cheap politics,” he added.

Modi’s Sunday programmes included laying the foundation stone for the IIT Dharwad building and gas pipeline project, among others, besides addressing a political rally in Hubballi .

Terming it as an “insult” to Karnataka, Congress leaders also hit out at the Centre for not inviting Kumaraswamy. KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao charged that the Modi government was claiming credit for establishing an IIT in Dharwad without acknowledging the contribution of the state, that allotted 500 acres of prime land for this purpose.

Seconding Rao, Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar said, “Merely printing his name in the invitation is not sufficient. There is a protocol. He should have been personally invited. He is not Kumaraswamy - he is the Chief Minister of the state. As far as I know, he was inclined to participate in the event. But he was ignored. This is a big insult to Karnataka.”