Kumaraswamy takes sly dig at Shivakumar over CCD founder death

Mysuru, NT Bureau: Union Minister for Heavy industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy indirectly suggested that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was responsible for the death of the chain Café Coffee Day (CCD) founder VG Siddhartha. Siddhartha was the sonin-law of former CM SM Krishna.

Shivakumar’s daughter Aishwarya is married to one of Siddhartha’s sons Amartya. Siddhartha had died by suicide in 2019 due to financial strain caused by income tax dues as per his death note.

Kumaraswamy made the comments during the programme on the concluding day of the joint BJP-JD(S) padayatra (march) from Bengaluru to Mysuru.

“When you (Shivakumar) were making a living as a ‘kotwal’ (rowdy), SM Krishna gave you a political life. Who was responsible for the suicide of a hardworker from that family Siddhartha? Place the facts before the people,” Kumaraswamy said. Shivakumar rubbished these claims and questioned Kumaraswamy’s mental balance.

The Deputy CM made the comments in Kanakapura town in Bengaluru South district after attending to petitioners in a programme held on the day.

“Does Kumaraswamy know about my relationship with SM Krishna? He doesn’t know anything. He has gone mad. I will tell his party men and well-wishers to get him medical care,” he said.

Shivakumar alleged that the JD(S) leader had resorted to personal attacks against him as a result of Nikhil Kumaraswamy losing the Ramanagara Assembly segment to the Congress in 2023. The seat, which had been a JD(S) stronghold, was breached by Congressman NA Iqbal Hussain.