Congress supporters offer a garland made of apples to DK Shivakumar, who returned to Bengaluru on Saturday

BENGALURU: Congress leader DK Shivakumar , who arrived in Bengaluru to a rousing reception on Saturday, hit out at the income tax department for its partisan attitude towards opposition leaders. “It’s clear that they selectively target opposition leaders,” he told mediapersons at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office.

Shivakumar sought to know why the department did not issue notices to BJP MPs from Karnataka and a few Union ministers whom he had gifted cellphones, each worth over Rs 50,000, when he was water resources minister in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. “I-T officials issued notice only to me, while no action was taken against those who accepted the gift. The I-T law clearly says that if anyone accepts gifts worth Rs 50,000 and above, the person has to declare it,” Shivakumar said.

“My only request to officers (I-T sleuths) is that they should act as per the law and not at the behest of somebody,” he added.

In 2018, he drew flak for squandering public money after he gifted expensive cellphones to MPs and a few Union ministers, claiming it was a usual practice. “Though all BJP MPs had offered to return the phones, only three of them did so,” he said.

Shivakumar also sought to know why I-T officials did not act on the statement of Congress MLA Srinivas Gowda who in the assembly claimed he was offered crores of rupees to switch sides.

Pleading innocence, Shivakumar said, “I am a farmer, businessman, educationist and a politician. There is no denial of that. Whatever I have done, it is as per law. There is no question of going back. I will fight this out. It’s just a beginning.”

Shivakumar said he was worried how his three children would face society when their father was in prison. “Most of the time, I was thinking what wrong had I done to be in jail and who was responsible. I read all laws pertaining to my case,” he said, recalling the days he spent in prison. “I have become stronger and more confident,” he added.

Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, who was leaving for Belagavi to visit floodhit areas, met Shivakumar at the airport. Both the leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries for a minute. Several Congress leaders, including former ministers Krishna Byregowda and PM Narendraswamy, and MLAs V Muniyappa and Rajegowda, were present at the airport. So was Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president TA Narayanagowda.

After reaching Belagavi, Kumaraswamy told media: “I will not speak like an opposition leader as I know nothing can be done overnight. I feel there is no threat to the BJP government in the near future. We will not try to destabilise the government.”

