I'm a state-level leader, can't be restrained: DK Shivakumar

Kalaburagi: In what can be described as a reply to the Jarkiholi brothers who have expressed their strong resentment over his alleged interference in the affairs of Belagavi, Minister for Water Resources D.K. Shivakumar made it clear that he cannot be restrained from going to Belagavi adding that as a state level leader, he has every right to go to any part of the state wherever issues crop up. 

“I’m not only minister for water resources and medical education,  I'm also chairman of the KPCC Prachara Samiti. If any leader of my party in any part of the state seeks my help, it's my duty to go there and help them", he declared during an interaction with the media here. 

When pointed out that the present crisis had cropped up due to his  'interference' in Belagavi Congress affairs, Mr Shivakumar candidly admitted that he was in politics to exercise his authority." My responsibility is the entire state. I have even visited Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Assam to manage political developments there. It's wrong on the part of the Jarkiholis not to expect me go to their territory (Belagavi). I expect them to come to my area and do politics too. We are friends, what is wrong in it?" he wondered. Asked whether the present crisis would affect the coalition government, he blamed the media for blowing the incident out of proportion. On whether he was ruffled by this crisis he replied in the negative. "Leave politics, many major developments took place. Did I get unnerved at any point of time?