"My association with Channaptna is much longer than that of HD Kumaraswamy": DK Shivakumar

Mangaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 26 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday lashed out at Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy for questioning his contribution to Channapatna and said his association with the town was much older than his.
Speaking to reporters at Bajpe airport in Mangaluru during his visit to Kukke Subramanya Swamy temple, "I have seen Channapatna much before Kumaraswamy did. He came to politics 10 years after me. I am from Ramanagara district and I know Channapatna way better than him."
"I contested the elections against his father HD Deve Gowda in 1985. He contested the Lok Sabha elections in 1995. People are of the opinion that no development has happened in the constituency in spite of big leaders representing the constituency. I have come to the constituency once again to serve the people here," he said.
"My brother D K Suresh is not keen on contesting Channapatna by-elections but he wants to contribute to the party. The people of the constituency have given us 85,000 votes in the Lok Sabha elections and we have to repay the debt," he added.
Asked about the demand for additional DCMs, he said, "The media is making news out of this every day. The party will answer these questions. Ask this question to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge or Surjewala, AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka or the Chief Minister."
Asked about Kumaraswamy's statement that the State government had rejected permission for mining in Bellary due to political vendetta, he said, "I don't know anything about mining, he may have more knowledge about it."
Asked about his visit to Kukke Subramanya Swamy temple, he said, "We are a Hindu family and we had plans of visiting the temple for a long time and hence we are here."
On the establishment of Kukke Development Authority, he said, "The proposal has come to my notice, it will be taken up in the Cabinet meeting."
Speaking about the FIR against Preetham Gowda in the Prajwal Revanna sex abuse case, he said, "I don't have any information on that."
Replying to a reporter's query about the lack of hospitals in Kukke Subramanya for the devotees, he said, "Ask this question to the BJP. People are voting for them but they have not done anything. This will be taken up with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao."
Referring to issuing ownership rights to the people living in forest lands, he said, "People have been living in forest lands and doing agriculture for generations. The Congress government will not bother them. No one will be evicted."
Asked about increasing milk prices, he said, "The price of water has become Rs 25 now. Farmers are getting very low prices for milk and they had been demanding price hike. The cost of dairy farming has gone up significantly and the farmers have been demanding this for a while and hence prices have been hiked."
"I sought the blessings of Lord Subramanya for the welfare of the State and its people and for good rains. Tamil Nadu has been demanding water. I hope we receive good rains and our dams fill up fast," he noted.