Is seer lying, Shettar asks M B Patil

 Jagadish Shettar, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, has accused Water Resources Minister M B Patil of “behaving irresponsibly”.

Speaking to journalists here on Friday, Shettar said Patil behaved as if Shivakumara Swami, the head of the Siddaganga Mutt, was lying on the issue of recognising Lingayat dharma as a separate religion.

 “Who gave Patil the right to speak on behalf of the pontiff? He should publicly apologise to him and resign as a minister,” he said.

Shettar said Congress leaders were “unnecessarily blaming” the Sangh Parivar on the issue. It’s up to Lingayat religious heads and other non-political personalities to discuss and launch the struggle for the separate religion. Instead, ministers are raising the issue at the behest of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. It is a “political tactic” of the Congress, he said.

‘Suitcase culture’

On the remark made by Kannada University, Hampi Vice-Chancellor Mallika Ghanti that no work could be done in the Vidhana Soudha without carrying a suitcase, Shettar said the Congress government was “looting” public money. If necessary, the BJP will give a complaint on the government’s “corruption” to the Governor, he added.

Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi said the “suitcase culture” was prevalent in the appointment of vice-chancellors, too.