New Delhi : Senior Congress Leader SiddaramaiahThe controversial remarks on Lingayats have come as a big relief to the BJP, which was on the defensive after several high-profile leaders from the community quit the party following denial of tickets for the assembly polls.
Reacting to the former chief minister’s remarks, the BJP said its allegation of “neglect” of the community by the Congress after the “unofficial” removal of Virendra Patil has been vindicated. “There is already a Lingayat CM (BS Bommai). He is the root of all corruption in the state.
The Congress leader’s remark was interpreted by the BJP as “devilising” the entire Lingayat community, the most decisive electoral component in the state, even as Siddaramaiah clarified that the statement was about the current CM.
The BJP was quick to launch a scathing attack against Siddaramaiah, saying he insulted the entire Lingayat community, saying, “It is not right for a former CM to make such a statement. He has said that the entire Lingayat community is corrupt. The Brahmin community was ridiculed in the past. Earlier, when he was the chief minister, he tried to break the Lingayat-Veerashaiva community. The people of the state will teach a lesson to Siddaramaiah,” said CM Bommai.
Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP for “misinterpreting his statement” and said his comments with specific reference to Bommai were being deliberately misconstrued to the entire community.
Reacting to the former chief minister’s remarks, the BJP said its allegation of “neglect” of the community by the Congress after the “unofficial” removal of Virendra Patil has been vindicated. “There is already a Lingayat CM (BS Bommai). He is the root of all corruption in the state.
The Congress leader’s remark was interpreted by the BJP as “devilising” the entire Lingayat community, the most decisive electoral component in the state, even as Siddaramaiah clarified that the statement was about the current CM.
The BJP was quick to launch a scathing attack against Siddaramaiah, saying he insulted the entire Lingayat community, saying, “It is not right for a former CM to make such a statement. He has said that the entire Lingayat community is corrupt. The Brahmin community was ridiculed in the past. Earlier, when he was the chief minister, he tried to break the Lingayat-Veerashaiva community. The people of the state will teach a lesson to Siddaramaiah,” said CM Bommai.
Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP for “misinterpreting his statement” and said his comments with specific reference to Bommai were being deliberately misconstrued to the entire community.