Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, on Sunday, said he accepts the debate challenge of the Opposition on MGNREGA.
Speaking to reporters near Palace Grounds, he said, “The Opposition parties have said they are ready for my challenge to debate on MGNREGA. I accept the offer and I am ready for the debate on any platform any time.”
Asked about Kumaraswamy coming for the debate, he said, “I welcome him. It would be good if he came for the debate first. Be it BJP State President or the Leader of the Opposition or Kumaraswamy, I am ready. It can be a public platform, session or media platform, I am prepared.”
Asked about Kumaraswamy calling Siddaramaiah ‘Leased CM’, he said, “We don’t him seriously. We have seen him delivering dialogues before the media for a long time now. Siddaramaiah will respond to his comments. Tell me when you fix a time for the debate. I am ready for this evening itself. I don’t need any preparation, I have all the information on my fingertips.”
“I am aware of how much of MGNREGA work has happened in Kanakpura taluk. BJP itself gave us the award as No 1 in implementation of MGNREGA. I don’t know if Kumaraswamy and Pralhad Joshi knows about this. The Centre had sent a team to investigate MGNREGA works in the taluk,” he added.
Asked about news that Kumaraswamy may enter state politics, he said, “Why state politics, he can do politics from the village itself.” Replying to a question on the Vokkaliga Udyami programme, he said, “We are encouraging young Vokkaliga entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are working hard and I wish them well.”
