Shivalinge Gowda blames BJP for provoking him to speak rudely, regrets remarks

A day after the conclusion of the legislature session, Congress MLA K.M. Shivalinge Gowda on Thursday said BJP legislators Sharanu Salagar and Vedavyasa Kamath had targeted and provoked him, leading to his remarks against the RSS and the BJP in the Legislative Assembly. He expressed regret over referring to Mr. Salagar’s wife during the debate.

Mr. Gowda’s alleged unparliamentary remarks against BJP MLAs had triggered noisy scenes in the Assembly on Wednesday. Opposition legislators staged a dharna in the Well of the House, demanding that Mr. Gowda apologise.

Mr. Salagar’s wife was the tahsildar of Basavakalyan, and Mr. Gowda alleged that the MLA had looted the money through her.

Addressing a press conference here, the Arsikere MLA said BJP members abused him when he was speaking on the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. He alleged that Mr. Kamath, Mr. Salagar, and Suresh Gowda repeatedly interrupted him and did not allow him to speak in the House.

“When I asked them why they were targeting me, they shouted ‘ragi thief’ and ‘coconut thief’ while I was speaking. What I said is recorded; what they said is not. I want justice,” he said.

Mr. Gowda acknowledged that he had spoken rudely against Mr. Salagar and Mr. Kamath but questioned the repeated personal attacks against him. “Why do they target me repeatedly? Why do they interrupt me when I speak? What is the motive?” he asked, challenging them to provide evidence of any wrongdoing on his part.

Referring to the incident going viral on social media, he said only one side of the story was being circulated. “Only what I said is being released on social media,” he added.

He also said the BJP had failed to act as a responsible Opposition during the special session. “I spoke about Mr. Salagar’s wife and I regret speaking about a woman. Other than that, I do not regret anything else,” he said.