Shivakumar told reporters here, “Whatever people wanted, they have already spoken. I will not blame BJP or media. We have given opportunities to others to use us.”
He was responding to questions about the embarrassing video of an alleged conversation between Salim and Ugrappa on Tuesday ahead of a press briefing in the party’s meeting hall.
In the video, Salim can be heard purportedly calling Shivakumar an extortionist who allegedly increased the ‘commission’ in the irrigation department’s contracts from eight per cent to 12 per cent.
The Congress has suspended Salim from the party for six years and issued a show-cause notice to party spokesperson Ugrappa, seeking an explanation within three days.
The state president of Congress said that the issue related to the viral video is not personal but of the party, which has been made by lakhs of party workers.
Hitting out at the BJP for targeting him over the viral video, Shivakumar said the BJP should look into what the saffron party’s MLCs AH Vishwanath, CP Yogeshwar, Ramesh Jarkiholi and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had against their leaders. Said.
Shivakumar said, “Why has the BJP not yet responded to the allegations leveled (against former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and his family) by Vishwanath, Yogeshwar, Ramesh Jarkiholi and Yatnal? Why don’t they speak about the collection in BJP’s office?”
The Congress leader said his only goal was to bring the party back to power in the state.
.