K'taka Cong govt 'unnecessarily quarrelling' with Centre: Union Minister Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy has accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka of "unnecessarily quarrelling" with the Centre and said that it won't help.

The JD(S) leader, whose party is part of the ruling NDA at the Centre, also said Prime Minister Narendra and the BJP leadership have confidence in him, and that he wants to fulfill their expectations.

"I know this government (in Karnataka is) unnecessarily quarrelling with the Central government. First of all, I request the Karnataka government that -- quarrelling will not help. Or throwing mud against the Central government will not help. Whatever is the issue, come, discuss with us," Kumaraswamy said.

Speaking to PTI videos, he said, "mutually with good confidence, we can do the work successfully. (Instead) every day (they are) criticising in public, daily they are making statements (against the Centre)...Unnecessarily criticising the Central government without any fault on part of the Central government. The fault is in your (state govt) court only."

Noting that there are several issues concerning the state and his top priority remains Karnataka, Kumaraswamy, however said that he is not a "selfish man", as he pointed out that, as a Central Minister, the entire country will also need his attention.

"To generate employment for the younger generation is the PM's vision and I have to see about that. Ultimately I want to get some name for the country and the PM. I pray to God to give me the strength to fulfill the PM's vision," the former Chief Minister of Karnataka added.

Noting that the PM, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda after the Lok Sabha elections have some confidence in him, Kumaraswamy said, in the Lok Sabha polls the voters decided to bless our BJP-JD(S) combination.