Kumaraswamy blames media for ‘stirring up’ N-K state row
Bengaluru: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday blamed the media for “stirring up” the separate north Karnataka state issue.
He warned that the media would be held responsible if the separate statehood issue snowballed into a crisis.
Kumaraswamy was speaking to reporters at his home office Krishna.
He said, “You (media) keep finding fault with every issue, without even understanding it. Even with regard to the separate state issue, you are the ones stoking the fire and instigating the people. Don’t mistake me, but the media is wrecking the state. While speaking in Channapatna recently, I merely quoted Sreeramulu’s statement in the Assembly. I questioned where they will get the grants for a separate state. Was it a big crime? For the last one week, the media has been misinterpreting this statement. I have repeatedly said I am for ‘Akhanda Karnataka’ (unified Karnataka).”
He said, “Your discussions on the separate state issue are creating a crisis. If anything goes wrong in future, you are responsible for it.”
When reporters asked him how they would profit by misinterpreting his statements, an extremely agitated Kumaraswamy shot back, saying he hadn’t given any misleading statements on the issue. “What have I said? I have only quoted the farmers’ organisations in Koppal calling for an agitation. Are you satisfied with the reports that you are airing for the last one week? Question your conscience – question the path you are treading. You don’t have any topic, so you are repeatedly airing this issue. Though I haven’t said anything, I am being quoted. Though the people are in favour of the government, the media is creating unnecessary controversies,” he said.
Recently, Sriramulu had warned that if the government neglected north Karnataka districts, the demand for a separate state would
intensify. Kumaraswamy had retorted at a public gathering in Channapatna, asking Sriramulu if he had the mettle to run a separate state.
Later, addressing a meeting of deputy commissioners and zilla panchayat chief executive officers, Kumaraswamy asked them not to take media reports on development issues seriously.