By Express News Service

VIJAYAPURA: Union government rejecting the separate religion demand of Lingayats will now be examined by the newly formed state government. “It is not an individual decision and not my responsibility to take further decisions,” said former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Siddaramaiah said he has no updates and has not spoken to any of the leaders regarding the Lingayat issue. “Now, the CM has to take further decision on the issue,” he said. “I have no part left to play in giving a separate religion status tag to the Lingayat community,” he said.

Siddaramaiah further said, “The Congress has solved all its internal disputes over the Cabinet issue. There might be minute disputes that have remained unsolved within the party, but we will soon work on it in for the welfare of the party and the government. All dissident legislators, earlier who were unhappy, have now agreed to allow the smooth functioning of the coalition government in the state. In future, all of them will be included in the state Cabinet.”

Replying to comments of Kanakaguru Peetha seer Ishwarananda Swami, Siddaramaiah said, “Everybody has the right to express their views. Similarly, the Swamiji also expressed his views. It is a coalition government... we need to work together instead of taking favours. It is not the right time to answer every question.”

Siddaramaiah, addressing a party convention at Badami, lashed out at the BJP. He said, “Yeddyurappa should be ashamed of taking oath as the Chief Minister against the Supreme Court’s decision and failing to prove his majority.”

“It is clear that many leaders of the saffron party have large sums of black money, as they offered our party legislators hundreds of crores of rupees in order to support them in the floor test. I thank all my legislators for being loyal to the party and teaching the BJP a lesson,” he said. He also assured the people of fulfilling their demands in phases in order to make Badami a model constituency in the state.

Siddaramaiah was accompanied by legislators SR Patil and R B Thimmapur and former ministers BB Chimmanakati and HY Meti, and other party workers of the district.Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah completed his five-day tour of Badami on Monday, which he kickstarted on June 7. It was his first to the constituency, after getting elected as the legislator representing Badami. He visited nearly 25 village panchayats and took part in thanks giving ceremonies of the segment.

Money power made my father lose: Yathindra

The youngest son of CLP leader Siddaramaiah and newly elected legislator of Varuna constituency Dr Yathindra, while addressing a party convention said, “Money power and casteism by the opponents were the two main reasons for the defeat of my father Siddaramaiah at Chamundeshwari constituency. But, the people of Badami blessed him. I thank people of the constituency for supporting my father in the elections,” Dr Yathindra said.