BJP, Cong in book war; Siddu says it's defamatory, meant to shame him ahead of polls

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Ahead of the crucial Assembly polls, now a mere four month away, a roaring controversy has broken out over a book titled ‘Siddu Nijakanasugalu’ which was to be released by BJP leaders on Monday in what is considered an attempt to embarrass former CM Siddaramaiah with the Congress leader alleging that it was ‘totally defamatory.’

The curtains have come down on the controversy for now after a sessions court acting on a petition submitted by Varuna MLA and Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yathindra, gave an injunction against the release of the book by state Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan and others. The picture of Siddaramaiah has been distorted with a conspiracy to disturb harmony and law and order, the petition alleged.

Following the court order, the book launch event was cancelled. The Congress leader also announced that he was contemplating legal action against the book which, according to sources, contains writings on the alleged misrule during the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government’s tenure and his "appeasement politics’’ targeting the minority communty.

"Who wore the dress like Tipu (18th century ruler of erstwhile Mysuru Kingdom Tipu Sultan) and held a sword in their hand, it was Yediyurappa(former CM) and Shobha Karandlaje (Union minister). Who wrote the foreword for Sheikh Ali's book on Tipu, isn't it duality?" Siddaramaiah asked, hitting back at the BJP.

The posters on the launch show books which have a picture of Siddaramaiah wearing an attire resembling Tipu Sultan and holding a sword, on its cover. The book is written by an author who goes by the initials 'VKP'. It is believed to be a three-volume series on the Congress leader.

Tweeting about the event and asking people to take part in it, Ashwath Narayan had said: "I appreciate the effort to find answers to many questions along with revealing many sensitive issues through the book 'Siddu Nijakanasugalu'..." Sensing trouble, police personnel were deployed at the Town Hall where the book was to be released.

Congress workers were seen protesting the scheduled release of the book citing the ad-interim injunction and the alleged defamatory content. Police took some workers into custody