No hard feelings on Bar council invite cancellation: DK Shivakumar

Maqsood Maniyar

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar tried to downplay his invitation being cancelled from the Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC) programme in Mysuru on Saturday, insisting that he was not upset and that everyone was free to make their own decisions.

The Karnataka Congress chief had been invited to the 10th State-Level Advocates' Conference.

Other invitees included CM Siddaramaiah, Supreme Court judge Justice AS Bopanna, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Prasanna B Varal, among others.

The controversy erupted when BJP MLA from Rajaji Nagar Suresh Kumar wrote to the Registrar General of the High Court, claiming that it was imprudent for Shivakumar to share the dais with judges since cases against him were being heard by justices at various levels of the higher judiciary.

The Deputy CM hit back at Suresh, pointing out that former CM BS Yediyurappa had on multiple occasions shared a stage with judges when he was being tried for corruption.

The KSBC, however, removed Shivakumar’s name from their list of chief guests.

“I’m not upset at being kept away from the Bar Council’s programme. Everyone is free to make their own decisions in this country. Therefore, I have no embarrassment regarding the same,” he said.

Moreover, Shivakumar insisted that there was nothing wrong with some contractors meeting Yediyurappa, seeking “justice” and payment of their dues.

The Deputy CM said that they were free to meet anyone. “May their struggle be victorious,” he said.