In the face of increasing criticism over the alleged protocol violation by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot during the felicitation function of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) held at Vidhana Soudha on June 4, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday stayed away from the controversy, asserting that he did not know who invited the Governor.
Talking to media personnel in Delhi, Shivakumar stated, "One must question the Governor himself who has invited him. I don't have anything to say on that. There is a one-man investigation commission looking into the issue, and my remarks should not affect the probe."
The Governor was said to have been kept waiting on stage while players were being congratulated, and some Congress leaders allegedly cut ahead of him to pose for selfies with the cricketers, inviting charges of disrespect and protocol breach.
Replying to if he had met the Congress high command, Shivakumar explained that no such meeting was held this time. However, he affirmed that he would be in Delhi on June 18 for negotiations with Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil on the water dispute of the Krishna river, and perhaps to meet the Prime Minister. He also said that he would be back in Karnataka later in the day to attend a meeting on the Yettinahole drinking water project.
In the meantime, Union Heavy Industries and former Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy strongly condemned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that killed 11 people. Reacting on social media site X, Kumaraswamy sharply questioned Siddaramaiah's reaction, citing him as having said nothing suspicious occurred at the Vidhana Soudha function.
"Honorable Siddaramaiah sir… Are you the Chief Minister of Karnataka or just of the Vidhana Soudha stairs?" Kumaraswamy asked. He also criticized the CM for supposedly shifting all the responsibility to the police and faulted the Congress government for deflecting blame by leveling it against the Opposition.
Reacting to this, D.K. Suresh, former MP and brother of Deputy CM Shivakumar, rebutted Kumaraswamy and the BJP, asserting that both the BJP and JD(S) had previously sought a victory procession for RCB. "They were questioning if the government was disrespecting sports enthusiasts. Now, after the tragedy, they are doing a volte-face. BJP taking a U-turn is not something new," he added.
Suresh also negated demands of resignation of the CM and Deputy CM, adding that such incidents have taken place in BJP-ruled states too. "If BJP leaders have any moral ground, they should resign first," he dared.
Responding to Kumaraswamy's remark that ex-Premier Manmohan Singh had not resigned following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Suresh shot back by mentioning that then-Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh had resigned. He further said, "Kumaraswamy is fixated on my brother. I request him to maintain his health and work for the people rather."
On reports that Shivakumar’s visit to Delhi was prompted by a summons from the Congress high command, Suresh said those claims were baseless. “The Deputy CM has gone with 15 BBMP officials to explore solid waste management technologies in Delhi. He’s also holding meetings with Delhi’s Urban Development Department to discuss new road infrastructure,” he clarified.
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