Mangalore, July 14: JD(S) and Sreeramulu's BSR parties have already contacted me with an invitation to join them but I have not decided on those lines as yet, said B Nagaraj Shetty, who has resigned as the Chairman of the Coastal Development Authority, as well as from the BJP party membership.
Addressing mediapersons at a press meet in Mangalore on Saturday, Mr. Shetty said that pained by the recent developments with respect to cabinet berth distribution and caste politics in the BJP, he had decided to call it quits from the saffron party.
“We grew up being taught that caste is insignificant in building a 'Rama Rajya' and that we are all Indians. But now, selfishness and caste politics have started dominating the party way too much. Earlier it was only confined to Lingayats and Gowdas. But now they have ignited the caste fire in our coastal region too. It has happened because of the growing disorder in the party”, Mr. Shetty said.
BJP leaders and activists of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi never thought along caste lines, Mr. Shetty said. “When Nalin Kumar Kateel stood for elections, Billawas whole-heartedly supported him and campaigned for him. Similarly, when Jayaprakash Hegde and Sunil Kumar came face to face in the recently held polls, I myself along with several others personally visited Bunt houses asking them to vote for Kumar, the BJP candidate”, Mr. Shetty said.
'Won't contest any elections in future'
When asked if he would change his mind and rejoin the party if he is given an election ticket, Mr. Shetty said that he has decided not to contest any election in the future, even if he is given a ticket by other parties.
Responding to a question whether he has taken political retirement, Mr. Shetty said that he had thought about it but owing to advices given by his well-wishers and elders, he has not decided on it as yet. “I will continue to do social service”, he said.
'I was not responsible for communal violences'
When asked if he is willing to apologise to minority communities as they had suffered greatly during communal riots held during his tenure as the district in charge minister of DK, Mr. Shetty said that he had tried his best to control the situation.
“Communal riots were not a new thing then. Even before we came to power there were riots. But we did our best to control them in our time”, he said.
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