I’m ready to go to jail: Karnataka BJP spokesman Suresh Kumar to Ugrappa

BENGALURU: Former minister and state BJP spokesperson S. Suresh Kumar joined issue with Congress MLC V.S. Ugrappa on the demolition drive in Bengaluru, saying he was ready to go to jail if the latter felt that he had committed a blunder by taking up the cause of families displaced by the government’s drive against encroachment of tank beds.

He told the media here on Thursday that he was not afraid of Mr Ugrappa’s threat to move a privilege motion against him and state Janata Dal (S) president H.D. Kumaraswamy, both members of the House committee constituted to study encroachment of tanks in Bengaluru.

“We have not made public details of deliberations of the committee. What we are doing is out of concern for displaced families. Mr Ugrappa is free to move the
privilege motion if he thinks that Mr Kumaraswamy and I have violated the norms,” he added.

Mr Suresh Kumar sought to know Mr Ugrappa’s stand on home minister K.J. George’s visit to Banasawadi tank in Sarvagna Nagar Assembly constituency and subsequently making a statement that demolition of houses was a mistake since no tank existed in Banasawadi.

Would the state government take action against Mr George for criticising the demolition drive in his Assembly constituency, he asked adding that his party would stand by all victims till justice was rendered.

He said the BJP would lodge a complaint with the State Election Commission (SEC) on distribution of sachets of palm oil and iodized salt with pictures of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and food and civil supplies minister Dinesh Gundurao on them to BPL families.

This was an attempt to woo voters ahead of polls to Gram Panchayats. “This is an election gimmick and the Siddaramaiah government must not stoop to this level. The government is doing this out to fear of losing the elections,” he added.