Bangalore: A video of a conversation between former MP VS Ugrappa and KPCC coordinator Salim about KPCC president DK Shivakumar has caused a stir in state politics. The incident happened while Ugrappa was on stage just before holding a media conference on Tuesday.
In the video, former Loksabha MP Ugrappa and Salim Ahmed can be heard talking about a “percentage deal” involving DK Shivakumar. Salim, who started a conversation with Ugrappa, who was sitting on the stage, said "Previously there was 6 to 8 percent. DK Shivakumar came and made it 12 percent."
Karnataka BJP has sought a clarification from Shivakumar, tweeting, "Your very own @INCKarnataka leaders have called you as a THIEF during a press conference. Are you a THIEF? Did you take 12 % BRIBE? Did you share this LOOT with your party owners? Will you please clarify?"
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Dear @DKShivakumar Avare,
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 13, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Your very own @INCKarnataka leaders have called you as a THIEF during a press conference.
Are you a THIEF?
Did you take 12 % BRIBE?
Did you share this LOOT with your party owners?
Will you please clarify?
">Dear @DKShivakumar Avare,
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 13, 2021
Your very own @INCKarnataka leaders have called you as a THIEF during a press conference.
Are you a THIEF?
Did you take 12 % BRIBE?
Did you share this LOOT with your party owners?
Will you please clarify?Dear @DKShivakumar Avare,
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 13, 2021
Your very own @INCKarnataka leaders have called you as a THIEF during a press conference.
Are you a THIEF?
Did you take 12 % BRIBE?
Did you share this LOOT with your party owners?
Will you please clarify?
"In a huge embarrassment to @INCKarnataka, its leaders disclose that aides of KPCC President @DKShivakumar have collected crores of rupees. They also wonder how much their boss DKS would have collected. We wonder how much he gave to Fake Gandhis. CONgress = Collection Agent," BJP tweeted.
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In a huge embarrassment to @INCKarnataka, its leaders disclose that aides of KPCC President @DKShivakumar have collected crores of rupees.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 13, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
They also wonder how much their boss DKS would have collected.
We wonder how much he gave to Fake Gandhis.
CONgress = Collection Agent 😂
">In a huge embarrassment to @INCKarnataka, its leaders disclose that aides of KPCC President @DKShivakumar have collected crores of rupees.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 13, 2021
They also wonder how much their boss DKS would have collected.
We wonder how much he gave to Fake Gandhis.
CONgress = Collection Agent 😂In a huge embarrassment to @INCKarnataka, its leaders disclose that aides of KPCC President @DKShivakumar have collected crores of rupees.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 13, 2021
They also wonder how much their boss DKS would have collected.
We wonder how much he gave to Fake Gandhis.
CONgress = Collection Agent 😂
Saleem, in the video, while talking to Ugrappa says, "He stutters while talking. I don’t know if it’s low BP or if he’s a drunkard. That’s what we discussed, media also asked if he was drinking then but he wasn’t. Siddaramaiah’s body language is kadak (smart)."
"We all fought hard to make DK the president. But he hurt us and the party," says Ugrappa.
In a clarification issued by VS Ugrappa today, he said, "There is no groupism in Congress, as many have imagined. KPCC President D.K.Shivakumar is the leader of our party. I know him for three-four decades. Born into a farmer family, he emerged as the state's senior leader. He is a good ruler and a politician with public concern."
Also read: Congress and women express outrage against Minister K Sudhakar's statement
"Before I started my press conference yesterday (Tuesday), Salim was talking about the scams in the irrigation department and he said that the BJP was talking like this. Salim informed me that they are trying to blame our party leaders. I have detailed them after the press conference. We did not indulge in any misconduct against DK Shivakumar," Ugrappa cleared.
"When Salim was speaking he was not clear...I tried to stop him to get some clarity on what he was saying ...we don't have a percentage culture in Congress. the media is wrongly claiming it to be a corruption scandal," he said.
KPCC Media coordinator Saleem expelled
Saleem has been expelled from the Congress party. The Regional Congress Committee has issued an official order, expelling Saleem from the Congress party.
KPCC president DK Shivakumar has issued a six-year expulsion for Saleem with immediate effect. The party has decided to investigate the conversation between Saleem and Ugrappa during yesterday's news conference.
The show-cause notice to Ugrappa will be issued by the Regional Congress Committee.
