Work For BJP-Free Country, Says Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: After 8 decades, a day has come to fight the communal forces and dictatorship in the country (referring to BJP rule) on the lines of the ‘Quit India’ movement against the Britishers, said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, called upon the party workers to ready themselves to make the country “Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) free.”

Speaking at a function to mark ‘Quit India’  movement at the Congress party office in Bengaluru on Wednesday, he pointed out the BJP leaders to make country “Congress free” and "Now, it is your duty to make the country free from BJP rule.”

He asked the party workers to make efforts to win over the hearts of people who back BJP and Janata Dal Secular (JDS) to win not only the Lok Sabha in 2024 but also the 2028 Assembly polls in Karnataka since they too are availing benefits of the Congress led State Government. The KPCC chief said that “There is no place for hatred and intolerance in Karnataka.”

Shivakumar stated that the victory of Congress party in Karnataka has instilled confidence among the political parties to take on the BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls and Karnataka brought together various political parties on a common platform and launched “India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance” (INDIA) to fight BJP in Lok Sabha polls.

Continuing, he said leaders of other States have wished to emulate Karnataka’s model (implementation of 5-guarantees such as free power, free bus travel for women among others) and stated that “Karnataka's model is working for the success of the party not worship of leaders.”

Shivakumar recalled that he was sure of Congress party winning 136 seats but many leaders did not believe me and opposition parties had indicated that a coalition government would come to power in Karnataka but my prediction did not go wrong and Congress won in Karnataka.

Ministers Eshwar Khandre and K.H. Muniyappa were present.