Who Invited K'taka Guv to RCB Felicitation Event at Vidhana Soudha?

Bengaluru, June 9 (NationPress) In response to the allegations of protocol breach and disrespect directed towards Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot during the event at the majestic steps of Vidhana Soudha celebrating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players on June 4, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated on Monday that he is unaware of who extended the invitation to the Governor.

Reports indicated that the Governor was left waiting on stage for the players, with Congress leaders allegedly neglecting him while capturing selfies with the team.

Addressing the media in Delhi, Shivakumar remarked, “One should inquire with the Governor himself about who invited him. I am not privy to that information. A one-man inquiry commission is currently investigating the situation, and my comments should not sway the inquiry.”

When questioned about his interactions with Congress high command leaders, the Deputy Chief Minister noted that a meeting with the party high command was not feasible this time.

“On June 18, I will travel to Delhi for a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil regarding the Krishna river water award. We are also contemplating a meeting with the Prime Minister,” he added.

“Today, I must return to Karnataka to participate in a meeting regarding the Yettinahole drinking water project,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy criticized CM Siddaramaiah via the social media platform X, regarding the tragic Bengaluru stampede that resulted in 11 fatalities.

Kumaraswamy took issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s assertion that nothing occurred at the RCB felicitation event, stating, “The government celebrated victory on the steps of Vidhana Soudha. No one died there! Only near Chinnaswamy Stadium did a stampede occur, leading to fatalities!!”

“Respected Siddaramaiah sir... Are you the Chief Minister of Karnataka, or merely the Chief Minister of the Vidhana Soudha steps!? Please clarify,” he questioned.

“How just is it to simply evade responsibility for the tragedy by blaming only the police? Why this attempt to shift blame onto the Opposition?” he added, criticizing CM Siddaramaiah.

In response to Kumaraswamy's remarks, D.K. Suresh, a former MP and brother of Deputy CM Shivakumar, stated, “After RCB’s victory, BJP and JD-S leaders posted messages on X calling for a procession. But now they have changed their stance. The BJP’s U-turn is nothing new.”

When asked about the BJP's demands for the resignation of Deputy CM Shivakumar and CM Siddaramaiah, Suresh responded, “Both parties had requested a procession. They asked, 'Are you insulting sports fans, can’t you hold a procession?' The BJP has consistently pursued this tactic since Congress took power. The people have not granted them a majority. We will present a list of significant tragedies that have occurred under BJP governance. If BJP leaders possess any morality, they should resign first.”

Reacting to Union Minister Kumaraswamy's claim that former PM Manmohan Singh did not resign after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Suresh replied, “Former CM Vilasrao Deshmukh resigned after that incident. Kumaraswamy seems to have forgotten this. He can’t eat or sleep without thinking of D.K. Shivakumar. I urge him to prioritize his health and serve the nation’s people.”

Addressing the claims about Deputy CM Shivakumar’s visit to Delhi at the Congress high command's request, Suresh clarified, “The media is spreading misinformation. There is no truth to this. Tenders have been issued for solid waste management in Bengaluru. Shivakumar is in Delhi with a team of 15 Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officials to explore new waste disposal technologies. He has also scheduled a meeting with Delhi's Urban Development department to discuss new road construction.”