DK Shivakumar gets rousing reception in Mysuru, Congmen call him ‘tiger of Karnataka’

Mysuru: Senior Congress leader and former minister D.K. Shivakumar who has taken up a temple run in Mysuru and Mandya districts for two days from Thursday, was given a huge welcome by Congress leaders, party workers and even JD (S) leaders, at Mysuru city railway station on his arrival by the Shatabdi Express on Thursday.

Fans shouted slogans hailing him as the  “next CM” and the “tiger of Karnataka.”  He was felicitated at a function at the Congress office, which was attended by senior Congress leaders R. Druvanarayan, Tanveer Sait, M.K. Somshekar, S Yatindra, Anil Chikkamaadu and Vasu. Overwhelmed by the welcome he received, Mr Shivakumar said, “I did not lose my courage for even a day (after he was arrested). I was worried how my family would face the questions people ask when  one goes to jail. I only thought of my wife and daughter and nothing else. But they too have not lost courage. I will reveal what happened in jail some other time. If I have erred, I should be punished. Let them hang me if I am proved guilty. I have not done anything outside the limits of law. Time and law will save me,” he said. He added, “I am married to someone from an ordinary family of Mysuru, neither my wife nor my friends or family members have used politics as a tool." Thanking people for their support, he said, "Despite belonging to different parties, people have protested against my arrest. I am blessed to have such support.  I have served people for the past 35 years and have never engaged in caste based politics. I was just born in a particular caste and that caste is my backbone.”

Mr Druvanarayan  described him as 'Aapathbaandava' (one who comes to help when there is a crisis) while Mr Sait called him ‘Ajaathashathru’ (one who has no enemies). Mr Shivakumar visited Srikanteswara temple at Nanjangud on Thursday. On Friday, he plans to visit Chamundeswari temple, Sri Ranganatha temple at Srirangapatna, Kaalikamba temple in Mandya and Madduravva temple.