DKS defends self over winter session absence

NT Correspondent

Belagavi: Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Thursday finally came down to Belagavi for the winter session and defended himself over the late arrival.

The Houses have been in session since Monday and the Deputy CM missed four days of proceedings.

He had been in Hyderabad for the most part, even participating in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting which chose A Revanth Reddy as the next CM of Telangana, which the high command agreed to.

Shivakumar had even flown to New Delhi to meet the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership over the same. Him and CM Siddaramaiah attended the swearing-in ceremony of Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad on Thursday.

When asked about his absence by mediapersons, he said: “(Congress) Leaders from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and other states supported us during our elections. It is only appropriate that we are there for them when they need us.”

Asked about the allegation of BJP bigwig BS Yediyurappa that Congress was involved in appeasement politics, he said that the Constitution of India requires taking care of all sections of the society.

“We are doing what is necessary for each section. We are providing schemes for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes too. We are working on the philosophy of equal share for all and equal life for all,” he added.