Speaking to mediapersons at a press meet in Mangalore on Monday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that there is no way his party would welcome Mr. Yeddyyurappa to its fold. “If we do so, then there would be no meaning in our struggle towards forming a corruption free state”, he said.
Responding to a query as to why his party is welcoming the likes of B Nagaraj Shetty, who have in the past associated themselves staunchly with the BJP, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that Mr. Shetty has realized his mistakes and come to the party with a “changed heart”. “In our party, there is no scope for communalism. Even Mahendra Kumar came to our party who was formerly from a BJP background. But he has not engaged in any such activities ever since he has joined us and instead has been opposing communal forces”, he said.
Asked if Mr. Yedddyurappa also approaches the party with a “changed heart”, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that he would still not join hands with him. “There is no pardon for the crimes he has committed in the past”, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.
The former chief minister accused the BJP led state government of misusing public money and siphoning of funds received by central government schemes towards party preparations for Assembly elections. Questioning the state government's support for 'Bharath Bundh' over diesel price rise, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the state government is also guilty of burdening the people with taxes. “The cess on petroleum products imposed in Karnataka is the most in the entire country. They have also increased VAT by 0.5% and ours is the state with the highest VAT in the country”, he said.
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