BENGALURU: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday broke his silence on the controversy surrounding a video purportedly showing his disapproval of the farm loan waiver and expressing doubts over the stability of the coalition government. Speaking to the media after a meeting with Congress leaders, he said he had nothing to do with the controversial video and termed its release as “unethical”.
“Someone recorded my private conversation and released it. Isn’t it unethical? No one knows the context or reference of the conversation I had,” he said. “This government will complete its full five-year term,” he said denying reports about his disappointment with the H D Kumaraswamy-led government. The two-part video showing him in conversation with his confidants at a naturopathy institute near Dharmasthala had gone viral, embarrassing the JD(S)-Congress coalition government.
Didn’t discuss video: Param
On Friday, Siddaramaiah took part in a meeting with senior Congress leaders G Parameshwara, D K Shivakumar, R V Deshpande and Veerappa Moily to discuss the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). It was scheduled before the meeting of the committee set up to draft CMP. “We didn’t discuss the video and had more important matters like the CMP on the agenda,” Parameshwara said. Friday’s meeting was the first official interaction Siddaramaiah had with Congress leaders after returning from his treatment.
“There was never a conspiracy and Siddaramaiah did not ask these leaders to come there (Dharmasthala). A few people went to seek his support in appointments to board and corporations and others followed suit. It was a courtesy call gone haywire,” said a source. Hordes of party leaders making a beeline to meet Siddaramaiah, coupled with the release of videos, had raised murmurs of discord in the coalition.