Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar refutes BJP’s claim on jail threat call, says it was an officer, not a politician

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday dismissed BJP’s allegations that party leaders had threatened him with jail time before he became Deputy CM. He clarified that no BJP leader had called him, but rather a government officer had made the remark.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said, “No BJP leader called me to say, ‘You will either become Deputy Chief Minister or go to jail.’ It was an officer who made that call. I am ready to reveal the officer’s name in the Assembly if BJP legislators ask me to.”

The Congress leader emphasized that the matter was five years old and did not warrant further debate. “Our party has returned to power, and I only reiterated what happened earlier. There’s nothing fabricated in my statement. I won’t name the officer outside; if the BJP insists in the Assembly, I will put it on record,” he said, challenging the opposition to raise the issue on the floor of the House.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar also responded to criticism from Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw over Bengaluru’s pothole and waste management issues. Shaw had questioned the city’s poor infrastructure, comparing it unfavourably with China.

Reacting sharply, Shivakumar said, “Bengaluru’s success is the result of collective effort, not constant criticism. We have identified 10,000 potholes and repaired 5,000, spending ₹1,100 crore. Let’s build Bengaluru together instead of breaking its spirit.”

IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge also hit back, saying critics should first look at BJP-ruled states — “If they spoke like this there, they might end up in jail,” he remarked sarcastically.

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