Nagaraj Shetty officially joins JD(S); Seeks guidance and forgiveness

Speaking after donning JD(S) colours, Mr. Shetty said that he had not joined the party with an eye on any personal gain or position. “I reiterate that I have no intention of making any personal gains and am not interested in any post or position. I will travel across the district and work towards strengthening the party in each and every village”, he said.

Heaping praise on Mr. Kumaraswamy, in whose cabinet he had worked as a minister when the JD(S)-BJP coalition government was in power, Mr. Shetty said that he wishes to see the JDS strongman emerge as the Chief Minister yet again. He also denied that he has no business dealings with Mr. Kumaraswamy or his brother H D Revanna.

'Did mistakes, need guidance'

Stating that the BJP led state government is following the policy of divide and rule, Mr. Shetty said that Dakshina Kannada district's harmonious atmosphere has taken a beating. There is a need to establish harmony in the region and he will look to do just that as a JD(S) activist, he said. “People talk about my RSS background. I would want to make it clear that right from the beginning, we have been only taught to love everyone. I am a small man. There are seniors like Amarnath Shetty in the JD(S) who I will look up to. If I have committed mistakes, forgive me and guide me”, Mr. Shetty said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy in his address lauded the move made by Mr. Shetty to join JD(S). “He has left the post of President of a body which almost had a cabinet rank and joined a party which is not in power. It's a sacrifice”, Mr. Kumarswamy said.

Stating that it was people like Mr. Shetty who were responsible for bringing BJP to power in the state, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that contributions of the likes of Mr. Shetty have been neglected by leaders like B S Yeddyurappa. “Mr. Yeddyurappa feels it is because of him that BJP came to power in state. They forget the contributions of their activists. Mr. Shetty has left them and come to JD(S). This is just the beginning”, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

The BJP administration has spread hatred in the society, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, urging the people of the state to realise the importance of living in harmony. “Why should the Hindus hate Muslims? They need to realise that many Hindus are earning and living peacefully in Gulf countries”, he said.

Police knew about Homestay attack

Mr. Kumaraswamy, in an apparent reference to the homestay attack, said that the police was aware of the incident beforehand. “The police know about all illegal activities that take place. They allow them to happen as long as they are paid their monthly quota of money by them. But when mediapersons expose their defects and unveil illegal activities happening in the society, they slap cases against mediapersons in return”, he said.

Other JDS leaders such as Zameer Ahmed Khan, Amarnath Shetty, Madhu Bangarappa, M G Hegde, M B Sadashiva, D M Aslam were present among others.