AUGUST 4, 2019 • THE WEEK 49n INTERVIEW
D.K. Shivakumar
Congress leader, KarnatakaBJP feels
threatened
by me
For the first time, you are seen as
not being in control.
We never expected our own friends
to backstab us. We did anticipate that
four or five rebels would resign. But we
never expected such huge numbers.
Did the rebels air their grievances in
a party forum before quitting?
No. They did not raise any issue. In
fact, many did not even ask for a
cabinet berth.
Was a Congress hand involved in
breaking the coalition?
I do not want to comment. Read Rahul-
ji’s tweet (where he says the alliance
was a target for vested interests, both
from within and outside.)What was on your mind when you
went to Mumbai to bring back the
rebels?
Not many within my own party were in
favour of my going. But I considered it
my duty to go there as I had got a call
from my Bombay friends (rebels).Did lack of coordination between
the parties lead to the collapse?
Whatever be the outcome, my party de-
cided to join hands with the JD(S) and
we stand by that decision. I feel [H.D.]
Kumaraswamy has also done his best.
There is a feeling that the coalition
was not good for the Congress’s
growth and would threaten its sur-
vival in the long run.
It is not true. Many leaders might have
such opinions. We must not forget it
was the decision taken by the party
high command, keeping in mind the
future of the country. Some of our lead-
ers could not digest this (coalition).
During the trust vote, you men-
tioned the raids on you by the IT
department and the Enforcement
Directorate. You alleged it was a
political witch-hunt.
From the day I tried to help Ahmed bhai
(Patel) in the Rajya Sabha elections, the
ED, IT and economic offences court areBY PRATHIMA NANDAKUMAR
HAVING THWARTED earlier attempts
of the BJP to topple the Congress-JD(S)
coalition, the Congress’s go-to man
suddenly seems helpless. In an inter-
view with THE WEEK, D.K. Shivakumar,
former water resources minister, hints
at what possibly went wrong. Excerpts:
after me. A small issue was blown out
of proportion. It is nothing but political
vindictiveness.
Are you saying that the BJP feels
threatened by you?
I have reasons to believe that. They
have declared all the properties owned
by my 85-year-old mother as her
son’s benami. This includes ancestral
properties for which [we] have all
the documents. Yet, I am forced to
fight legal battles. This is a political
conspiracy.
How many cases have been slapped
on you?
My God! Only God can save me.Has your party stood by you in
these troubled times?
No one has stood by me. Once [UPA
chairperson] Sonia Gandhi called me
to say she was feeling sorry for what I
was going through.
Do you suspect that your own party
members are against you?
I have quoted Voltaire many times.
I repeat, “Lord, protect me from my
friends. I will take care of my enemies.”
Assuming the BJP will form the gov-
ernment in Karnataka, what is your
party’s revival plan?
I do not know the plans of my party’s
high command. I am sure they will
decide on it. The Karnataka in-charge
has to take stock of the situation.
Do you foresee a greater role for
you in the party? Leader of opposi-
tion or the party president’s post?
I will not go around with a begging
bowl. I have no expectations.
Despite all the difficulties, you
remain a party loyalist.
The late Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi
have given me support and strength. I
am only a Gandhi family loyalist.
Do you believe the BJP can have a
stable government?
Let us see. Wait and watch.