Congress Legislative Party leader and former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has claimed that the letter written in his name to All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge complaining about Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar was fake.
The three-page letter, on Siddarmaiah’s letterhead and addressed to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has been circulating on social networking sites since the evening of Monday, 8 May.
Siddaramaiah was quick to respond. He said that the letter was fake and blamed the BJP.
“Frustrated by the fear of defeat, the BJP wrote a forged letter in my name and spread slander. I have not written any such letter,” he tweeted.
ನಾಡಿನ ಮಹಾಜನತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮನವಿ,
ಎಐಸಿಸಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಖರ್ಗೆ ಅವರಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಕಲಿ ಪತ್ರವೊಂದನ್ನು ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದು ನಾನು ಬರೆದ ಪತ್ರ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಕೆಲವು ಕುತಂತ್ರಿಗಳು ನಕಲಿ ಪತ್ರವನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಮಾಡಿ ನನಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕೆಪಿಸಿಸಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಡಿ.ಕೆ ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರ ನಡುವೆ ಭಿನ್ನಾಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಗಳನ್ನು ಉಂಟುಮಾಡಲು… pic.twitter.com/KSdYN7lpzK
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 9, 2023
He further said: “Party workers and followers should not fall prey to this false propaganda. My relationship with DK Shivakumar is cordial and efforts are being made to bring enmity. They will not succeed.”
He continued: “I will lodge a police complaint as soon as possible. I will demand action against those who created and spread the fake letter.”
Also read: Siddaramaiah joins ‘Hindi imposition’ chorus
What the letter said
Since Monday evening, the three-page letter, complaining against KPCC president DK Shivakumar for making independent decisions and announcing himself as the party’s chief ministerial candidate sidelining his followers and working against the interest of the party, has gone viral in social media.
According to the letter, Siddaramaiah accused Shivakumar of acting against the interest of the OBC communities during the distribution of tickets, and denying tickets to many of his followers.
“He managed to pit the OBC community against me and the party,” claimed the letter.
ನನ್ನ ಮತ್ತು @DKShivakumar ಸಂಬಂಧ ಸೌಹಾರ್ದಯುತವಾಗಿದೆ, ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಹುಳಿ ಹಿಂಡುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಯಶಸ್ಸು ಕಾಣಲಾರದು.
ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಪೊಲೀಸರಿಗೆ ದೂರು ನೀಡಿ
ಈ ಕಿಡಿಗೇಡಿತನದ ಪತ್ರ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿ ಹಂಚುತ್ತಿರುವವರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಕ್ರಮ‌ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಲಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
2/2 pic.twitter.com/dPtCbqKZqM— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 8, 2023
It further claimed that while Siddaramaiah wanted to contest from two constituencies in the interest of the Congress, Shivakumar “succeeded in preventing his contesting from Kolar”.
“He is working against him even in Varuna by making internal understanding with the JD(S) and also funding BJP candidate V Somanna to ensure his defeat,” said the letter.
“Shivakumar is working against the interests of the party by conspiring to defeat his followers by making an internal alliance with the JD(S). I hope the high command will heed to the issue and initiate action,” it added.
Also read: Efforts on to get Vijay Sethupathi for Siddaramaiah biopic
Siddaramaiah reacts
Siddaramaiah termed the letter fake and accused the RSS of making it viral.
In a video statement, Siddaramaiah said: “This is not my letter. Some mischievous people hatched the conspiracy of creating a fake letter with the intention of creating a rift between me and DK Shivakumar.”
He added: “The mischief-mongers of the RSS caused it to go viral on social media. I appeal to all the people to reject this letter.”
Siddaramaiah also said: “I am filing a complaint to find out the miscreants behind this fake letter and take action against them.”
