Jagadish Shetter on CM: Desperate, mad

Bengaluru: Strongly objecting to  Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s claim that  BJP national president, Amit Shah had got a clean chit from the CBI in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case only because his party was in power at the Centre, former Chief Minister, Jagadish Shetter , on Monday said this only showed how desperate Congress leaders were to discredit him.

“The Chief Minister and former minister, A H Vishwanath have sunk to a new low in their statements against Mr. Shah.  They have gone mad. Congress leaders in the state have been left feeling desperate after  Mr. Shah’s visit,"  he maintained, speaking to reporters here .

The CM had on Sunday  charged that  Mr Shah had been let off in the Sohrabuddin case by the CBI court only because there was a BJP government at the Centre and  Mr. Vishwanath had likened the BJP national president to Bhasmasura, a demon in Hindu mythology.  

Arguing that Mr Siddaramaiah’s comment amounted to contempt of court, Mr Shettar said  Mr. Shah’s visit  to Bengaluru was the BJP’s internal affair.

“His visit here was to only hold a meeting with party cadres on the membership campaign. But  Congress leaders have made baseless charges against him.  It only reflects their culture. The Chief Minister should apologise for his derogatory remarks,”  he demanded.

The BJP leader  suggested the state government set up a search committee for  nominees to the Karnataka Public Service Commission, regretting that despite the Supreme Court order, it had made political appointments to the panel.

Coming down hard on excise minister, Satish Jarkiholi for objecting to the state government fixing the price of  Rs 2500 for a tonne of sugarcane, he urged the  Chief Minister to drop him from the Cabinet.