Just give rumours a break: DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: In an attempt to clear the air after several news reports claimed  his  business dealing with Cafe Coffee Day founder V.G. Siddhartha had allegedly impacted the tycoon's untimely demise, former minister and Congress leader, D.K. Shivakumar on  Friday issued a strong rebuttal remarking that "Siddhartha is being murdered every time" the media "weaves news stories about his   association with the business tycoon".

Mr Shivakumar, who accused the media of linking him to the tycoon to get better ratings, said that with Siddhartha ending his life, it would be better not to keep making these allegations. "Let his soul rest in peace and let his family live in peace," he said in a formal note. "My relationship with Siddhartha is more than three decades old. Ours is a relationship which grew over the years and was much more than friendship.

Only we knew how deeply we liked each other. Now that he is no more, I request the media to maintain restraint and not spread rumours about our business links," he asserted.

Mr Shivakumar said that had Siddhartha been alive, he was sure the CCD owner himself would have clarified the matter. The Congress strongman asserted that though he had business ties with him,  it was not the way media houses had made it out. "I, being a politician do have the right to do any business and so does Siddhartha. I do both politics and business. He did not and was passionate about his business. Leave him alone, at least in his death," he said.