BENGALURU: Putting up a brave front in the face of adversity, Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar accused the BJP government at the Centre of misusing the Income Tax department to target him politically. Shivakumar, who has emerged as the troubleshooter for Congress, even threatened to hit back as he declared, “I too have many diaries which contain many names. I will reveal them at an appropriate time. I know when to do that.”
He was speaking to reporters on Wednesday after a Special Court for Economic Offences issued summons to him to appear on August 2. This was related to a case that accuses him of illegal financial transactions and notings of money transfer in a diary found at the residence of one of Shivakumar’s associates. Shivakumar said, “I have seen what happened to the diaries which had the names of many senior BJP leaders. I am not the one who will get scared and run away from this battle. I will face it. I have faith in the courts and the judicial system.”
Shivakumar, who claimed to have diaries containing explosive information, refused to divulge any details and said, “I will wait and see till the final stage. I know when to reveal those diaries. I will hit back if pushed to the corner. I know who is behind this. They are targeting my relatives and friends as well. I have not committed any mistake. I have conducted my transactions legally.”
Reacting to BJP’s demand for his resignation, Shivakumar said, “I will give a befitting reply to my BJP friends soon.”Expressing his ire at the “selective targeting of political opponents” by IT officials, Shivakumar said, “I am being targeted though similar diaries have been found at the premises of other senior leaders too,” he said. Shivakumar also expressed the confidence of coming out clean as he indirectly stated that the courts have in the past refused to consider them the documents as evidence in financial transactions.
CM expresses solidarity
Expressing solidarity with Shivakumar, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has assured all help as long as Shivakumar is on the right side of the law. Kumaraswamy expressed concern at the functioning of the Central agencies and departments like IT and ED. “Central agencies should function without any political bias. They should not be used to settle political scores,” he said. He later met former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and discussed the trouble Shivakumar is facing. They decided to tread cautiously and Gowda has reportedly asked Kumaraswamy to show restraint while speaking to the media.