DK Shivakumar slams govt circular seeking mobilization of students for PM’s visit

Bengaluru: KPCC president DK Shivakumar on Wednesday slammed the state BJP government for issuing a circular directing the principals of all the government and private Pre-University colleges in the Bengaluru Rural district to send students to the Prime Minister’s event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the city on Friday to inaugurate Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport and a 108-foot bronze statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda.

Speaking about Modi’s visit, the Congress leader said that he is not objecting to the PM’s state visit but condemning the circular issued by the state government seeking mobilization of students for attending the event.

Let the BJP mobilize people and organise a program to showcase the achievements of its leaders and double-engine government in the last three years. We won’t object to it. But is this an educational program to mobilise students, he questioned?

“It is shameful that 17-18 year-olds are being dragged for political events when elections are nearing. This is an insult to the democratic nature of our country as well as the Prime Minister’s post. The government should immediately withdraw this order,” Shivakumar added.

Highlighting the vacant seats at the Jana Sankalpa event attended by Union Minister Smriti Irani, the KPCC president said that the circular was issued in order to fill the seats at PM’s event. “This is evidence that BJP has become bankrupt. The minister who issued the circular must resign immediately,” Shivakumar said further seeking an explanation from the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile earlier today the Karnataka government withdrew the controversial circular.

Quizzed about Satish Jarkiholi’s Hindu remark, Shivakumar contended that the Congress party has condemned his remark “Satish has claimed that his statement is based on factual information but I am not aware of the same. The party does not associate with his remarks and the BJP can use his remark for its political gains.”

Reacting to Minister Muniratna’s invitation asking the KPCC president to join BJP as he stands no chance at CM’s post in the Congress party, Shivakumar said he was elated. “It is now proved that BJP does not have people for the post of Chief Minister.”