Varanasi visit: BSY, HDK engage in war of words

HUBLI: JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy ridiculed former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s planned visit to Varanasi on Shivaratri.“Can a crow transform into a nightingale by dipping in the holy waters of the Ganga?” he questioned. Addressing media persons here on Sunday, the former CM said Yeddyurappa lost his post after receiving mandates from the people for his wrong doings.Now, he was trying to wash away his sins by visiting Varanasi, Kumaraswamy added.He quoted a line from Kuvempu’s poem: “Dakshinada Kage Uttarad Nadiyalli mindare Kogile Aaguvude?” (Can a crow from the South become a nightingale just because it takes a dip in a holy river in the North?) Kumaraswamy also slammed BJP leaders for failing to address the problems of the people.He said there was no coordination between the CM and his Cabinet colleagues.Instead of indulging in internal squabbles, the BJP leaders should dissolve the state government and go for the polls, he added.The JD(S) leader also accused the BJP leaders of “looting public money” by increasing Vat from 12 per cent to 14 per cent citing the floods in north Karnataka districts.“The BJP leaders claim of presenting of a separate budget for agriculture, but they did not fulfil the aspirations of the farmers.The funds earmarked for organic farming, Suvarna Boomi Yojane and revolving funds were not spent, and it showed the utter failure of the government,” he said.Refuting opposition leader Siddaramaiah’s demand for declaring Basavaraj Horatti as chief ministerial candidate, Kumaraswamy asked the former to mind his own party’s business and focus on its activities.