'I am being targeted for being Dalit', says Mudigere MLA M P Kumaraswamy

Mudigere: MLA M P Kumaraswamy, on Thursday, who is facing opposition from a section of local party workers, alleged that he was being targeted for being a Dalit.

Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy turned emotional stating that he was pained that a senior leader like Yediyurappa was not allowed to take part in the rally in Mudigere, to organize where lakhs of rupees were spent.

Stating that Yediyurappa has instilled confidence in him and has asked him to work for the party and people, he hit out at those protesting against him, and said, “I’m being targeted as I come from SC community.”

Earlier in the day, the BJP had to cancel its rally and roadshow that was to be attended by party strongman and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, following a protest by a group of partymen urging the leadership not to give ticket to sitting MLA Kumaraswamy from the segment in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The developments forced the veteran leader, who is also the party’s Parliamentary Board member, and other leaders including its national general secretary C T Ravi, and MLC M K Pranesh to abandon the event, which was organised as part of the BJP’s ongoing ‘Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre’, and go back.

As Yediyurappa was on his way to take part in the roadshow, a group of party men surrounded his car and raised slogans against Kumaraswamy and wanted the senior leader to hear their appeal; following this, another group of workers gathered at the spot shouting slogans in favour of the MLA.

Repeated attempts by Ravi and other BJP leaders to pacify both sides, with an appeal to allow them to carry on with the roadshow and rally, were not successful.

 (With PTI inputs)