Bengaluru: JDS leader and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s angry conduct towards power station employees, blocked his convoy to submit a list of their grievances, received nation-wide condemnation.
Kumaraswamy was in Raichur for his Grama Vastavya programme, when employees of the Yermarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS)blocked his convoy to submit their grievances.
Their demands included unfulfilled ‘promise’ of jobs given when their land was taken over for the power project.
Reacting to their demands, HDK said, “You voted for Narendra Modi and want me to get your works done! You want me to give you respect. Should I baton-charge you? Leave the place.”
BJP State party chief B S Yeddyurappa slammed the CM for his conduct. He said, “Threatening people who walked several kilometres to meet you that they will be baton charged is against the democracy. The CM is losing is cool, may be because of his terrible rout in the Lok Sabha elections.”
Later, speaking to the press, Kumaraswamy clarified that he had told the group to give 15 days time to address their grievances, but they blocked the road and this made him angry. “This government is tolerant, but it is not incapable and knows how to deal with situations,” he said.
Addressing the people of Karegudda village later, Kumaraswamy said he would be cautious in future. He said chanting Modis name will not serve the purpose because your voice will not reach Delhi. “It is only me who has to listen and rectify things. People should not forget the responsibility reposed on me.”
Kumaraswamy will spend the night at a government higher primary school in Karegudda under Manvi Taluk of the district as part of his village stay programme. This is the chief minister’s second such stay, the first was in Chandaraki village in Yadgiri district last week. Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP condemned the chief minister’s outburst and threatened to stage state-wide agitations if Kumaraswamy did not apologise to the masses.
Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda alleged that some forces were putting obstacles in the village stay programme of his son.