Jagadish Shettar Archives - Lokmarg

No Question Of Banning Bajrang Dal: Shettar Differs With Manifesto

By LokMarg 5th May 2023

Amid political uproar over the Congress manifesto for Karnataka elections declaring a ban on Bajrang Dal, former chief minister and Congress leader Jagadish Shettar said there is no question of banning the right-wing outfit.

Shettar joined the Congress a day after quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after being denied a ticket for the May 10 assembly polls in the state.

The Congress manifesto said the party is committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred among communities on grounds of caste and religion.

“We believe that law and Constitution are sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on any such organisations,” the manifesto said.

Speaking to ANI, Jagadish Shettar said, “Many points are there in the election manifesto, why should we restrict to this issue? Banning any organization is the power of the central government, not the state government. Veerappa Moily already clarified that there is no question of banning Bajrang Dal.”

Asked about his opinion of banning Bajrang Dal, the former Karnataka CM said, “As far as a ban on Bajrang Dal is concerned, I will discuss it with the leaders in the party forum. I will talk with leaders and exchange my views. My contention is that banning any organisation is within the power of the union government only not the state government. It is my clear stand, he said.

On Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar’s statement that if Congress comes to power in Karnataka it will build more temples, Shettar said, “Temple is open to all the parties. Congress also gave assurance. What is wrong with it.”

Shettar became the second big leader from the Lingayat community to leave the ruling BJP and join Congress last month. Earlier, former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi joined the Congress.

Earlier on April 22, Shettar said that the BJP had damaged his self-respect and that people of the state are intelligent enough not to support such a party.

The BJP has made Congress move to name Bajrang Dal along with PFI a big election issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that Congress has decided “to lock up” Bajrang Bali devotees and urging voters to chant ‘Jai Bajrangbali’ to punish those who “abuse culture”.

Attacking Congress ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the former has become a slave of appeasement and vote-bank politics.

Addressing an election rally in Tumakuru, Prime Minister Modi said, “Congress has now started objecting to saying Jai Bajrangbali. Congress has become a slave to appeasement and vote-bank politics. Congress can never work for the welfare of Karnataka. It can never develop Karnataka. The people of Karnataka have understood the game of the Congress and the JDS. A vote to JDS will give Karnataka a weak and unstable government and a weak government can never build a strong Karnataka.”

Prime Minister Modi began his address by chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Bajrang Bali ki Jai” (chants to the glory of Lord Hanuman).

PM Modi’s remarks come in the backdrop of the Congress’s Karnataka election manifesto, including banning right-wing outfits like Bajrang Dal.

The 224-seat Assembly polls are slated to take place in a single phase on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13. (ANI)

Joined Cong Due To BJP’s Ill-Treatment: Shettar

By LokMarg 23rd April 2023

Former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jagadish Shettar met Rahul Gandhi on Sunday for the first time after joining Congress and said that he became a part of the grand old party because of the “ill-treatment” advocated by the BJP.

After meeting Congress Rahul Gandhi, Shettar said, “First meeting with Rahul Gandhi and we discussed so many issues…”
“I came to join Congress because everyone knows the ill-treatment given by BJP. So, I have shifted to another national party. Rahul Gandhi is the leader of that party. So, I discussed many things,” Shettar told ANI.

Jagadish Shettar on Thursday alleged that “some people with vested interests are controlling” the BJP government in Karnataka.

Shettar said, “The BJP government has completed 5 years in Karnataka. People are talking about the ill-treatment of seniors but not about other issues like development. Have important issues been solved? But now due to the negligence of the seniors (BJP), this discussion was started. Some people with vested interest are controlling the entire BJP in Karnataka and govt.”

Jagadish Shettar filed his nomination from the Hubli-Dharwad-Central Assembly constituency on Wednesday for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Elections.

Jagadish Shettar became the second senior leader from the Lingayat community to leave the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and join Congress in less than a week. Earlier, former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi joined the Congress.

Shettar is set to face BJP’s candidate Mahesh Tenginkai in the election.

Shettar on Monday joined the Congress party a day after he quit BJP ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in the State.

Shettar was inducted into the party in the presence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the Karnataka state Congress president DK Shivakumar and the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Siddaramaiah.

Senior BJP leader Amar Singh Patil also joined Congress along with Shettar.

The Karnataka assembly elections will be held in a single phase on May 10, with the counting of votes scheduled on May 13. (ANI)

Joining Congress Wholeheartedly.., Says Shettar After Quitting BJP

By LokMarg 17th April 2023

Prominent Lingayat leader and former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar on Monday joined the Congress party a day after he quit the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in the State.

Shettar who arrived at the Congress office in Bengaluru this morning was inducted into the party by Congress chief MallikarjunKharge, the Karnataka state Congress president DK Shivakumar and the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Siddaramaiah.

Senior BJP leader Amar Singh Patil also joined Congress along with Shettar.

Speaking at the occasion, Shettar said, “Yesterday I left BJP and today I joined the Congress party. Many are surprised as an opposition leader, former chief minister and party president is joining Congress. BJP has given me every position and being a party worker I always worked for the party’s growth.”

” I was among those who organised and worked for the growth of the (BJP) party. Yes BJP gave me respect and position. I won as an MLA six times and I I thought I would be naturally fielded for the seventh time,” he said

“I thought being a senior leader, I will get the ticket, but when I came to know that I am not getting it, I was shocked. No one spoke to me nor tried to convince me, not even gave assurance about what position will I get,” he stated.

“On April 11the party incharge said I had not been given a ticket. He spoke to me like speaking to a child. What should I do? I got a call in the morning and I was spoken to like I am a first time MLA or aspirant. I’m hurt. I was treated badly, ” Shettar said.

Shettar further said, “I was contacted by DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Surjewala and MB Patil. When they invited me I came without any other option. I am joining Congress wholeheartedly.”

Addressing reporters Congress chief Kharge said, “I do not need to give more introduction about Jagadish Shettar. His joining will boost the enthusiasm of the Congress, He is the person who not only wins alone, he is a person who is capable to win more seats. Though he was in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Jana Sangha, he is a non-controversial person. We have worked together.”

“Our target was 150, now after Shettar’s joining it is confirmed that we will reach the target,” added the Congress chief.

Taking to Twitter, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “A New Chapter, A New History, A new Beginning…. Former BJP CM, Former BJP President, Former Leader of Opposition, Six times MLA, Jagadish Shettar joins the Congress family today. Karnataka Congress welcomes him.”

Notably, Karnataka State Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar met former CM Shettar in Bengaluru after he resigned from BJP on Sunday.

In this regard, Jagadish Shettar took to Twitter and said, “Fed up with the political events of the past few days, I have resigned from my MLA seat and will discuss my next move with the activists. As usual, I believe that your love and blessings will always be with me”.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said that Shettar was humiliated and BJP has crumbled like a house of cards.

Shettar tendered his resignation as an MLA to Karnataka Assembly Speaker, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, at Sirsi on April 16.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had earlier mentioned that BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised Shettar a big post in Delhi.

“Jagadish Shettar has been a senior and an important leader in this region. JP Nadda and Union Home Minister had promised a big post in Delhi to Shettar. Everything would have been fine if the former CM had continued,” Bommai told media persons in Hubballi.

Bommai said that tickets are being denied to some candidates as opportunities are being given to the young generation.

Shettar, a six-time MLA from the constituency, was reportedly advised by the party to stand down and not seek a fresh term as MLA from the Hubli-Dharwad Central segment, following which his followers expressed their anguish against the party’s high command.

On Saturday after announcing his resignation Shettar also mentioned that there was a conspiracy against him, which is why he was denied a ticket.

Meanwhile, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said if Shettar comes back to BJP, the party would welcome him.

The Karnataka assembly elections will be held in a single phase on May 10, with the counting of votes scheduled on May 13. (ANI)

Will Welcome Him If He Comes Back To BJP: Yediyurappa After Jagadish Quits As MLA

By LokMarg 16th April 2023

After BJP MLA Jagadish Shettar resigned from his membership in the state assembly, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said if Shettar comes back to BJP, the party would welcome him.

Addressing mediapersons here, Yediyurappa said, “BJP is a national party. BJP has given a good position to me, Jagadish Shettar, Laxman Savadi and others. Laxman Savadi was made a minister. When he lost the election, we made him an MLC. We gave him many opportunities in the party. I want to ask Laxman Savadi followers, what wrong did we do to him? Why did he join the Congress?”
A former Karnataka deputy chief minister, Laxman Savadi quit the BJP and was fielded from the Athani Assembly constituency by the Congress.

Savadi’s exit ahead of the polls is seen to be a major blow to the ruling BJP He joined the Congress party, after being denied a ticket by the BJP.

Further invoking to Jagadish Shettar, Yediyurappa said, “We made him (Jagadish Shettar) the chief minister of Karnataka and the BJP state president. The statements given by him have made us unhappy. People knew about Jagadish Shettar only because of BJP. I want to ask Jagadish Shettar why is he joining Congress. If he comes back to BJP, we will welcome him.”

He said People from Karnataka will not forgive Shettar.

“Dharmendra Pradhan had offered Jagadish Shatter, a ministerial position in the cabinet. We had offered a ticket to Jagadish Shatter’s family. But he did not respond to it,” he said.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar tendered his resignation as an MLA to Karnataka Assembly Speaker, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, at Sirsi on Sunday.

Earlier on Sunday, Shettar said some Karnataka BJP leaders were mishandling the party in the State.

“I am going to tender my resignation as an MLA and I will also resign from the primary membership of the party. Later I will decide the next course of action, whether I have to fight independently or with a party. The ill-treatment and humiliation by the senior leaders of the party have hurt me a lot. My decision (to resign from BJP) is final. Some state leaders are mishandling the BJP system in Karnataka,” Shettar told ANI.

On whether he will be joining the Congress, the former Karnataka chief minister said, “I have not decided yet.”

Shettar, a six-time MLA from the constituency was reportedly advised by the party to stand down and not seek a fresh term as MLA from the Hubli-Dharwad Central segment, following which his followers expressed their anguish against the party’s high command.

On Saturday, after announcing his resignation, Jagadish Shettar also mentioned that there is a conspiracy against him, which is why he was denied a ticket.

“There is a conspiracy against me, will tell everything after resigning,” Shettar told ANI.

After being left out from the BJP’s candidate lists, Shettar had earlier issued an ultimatum to the party, saying he will consider his future political course if denied a ticket from his preferred segment.

The 224-seat Karnataka Assembly will go to polls on May 10, and the votes will be counted on May 13. (ANI)