Ballari violence: Janardhana Reddy lashes out at DKS, asks Siddaramaiah to stay on as CM

The clashes in Ballari in front of BJP MLA G. Janardhana Reddy’s residence took a new twist in the Assembly on Thursday, with Mr. Reddy launching a tirade against Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar for his stand on the incidents and remarking that he should not become the Chief Minister.

“Though there was an effort by the local Congress MLA to attack me, the Deputy Chief Minister stood with him. He has ridiculed my position by saying that I can get security from Iran or organise a group of volunteers from the BJP to protect me. It is for his party to decide whether he is fit to hold his post,” Mr. Janardhana Reddy remarked in the Assembly while participating in a motion of thanks to the Governor’s address.

Continuing his attack on Mr. Shivakumar, who aspires to be the Chief Minister, Mr. Reddy remarked, “God should not allow him to become Chief Minister.”

‘Continue as CM’

Turning at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was present during the debate, Mr. Reddy said, “You may have taken up a padayatra against me earlier and I may have gone to jail. I am not pained by it. But that was my fate. But with folded hands, I beg you to continue as Chief Minister for the remaining term.”

He hailed Mr. Siddaramaiah by saying that he had earlier directed officials concerned to go by facts. He appealed to the Chief Minister to order a probe either by the CBI or by a sitting Karnataka High Court judge into the Ballari violence to bring out the truth.

He further urged the government to arrest those who employed private gunmen, who were allegedly involved in the shooting episode that claimed the life of a Congress worker in Ballari.