BJP to go on offensive against HD Deve Gowda's family

Two key loyalists of chief minister BS Yeddyurappa today launched a broadside against JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, amid indications that BJP is set to unleash an offensive against former Prime Minister HD Devegowda's family, as the verbal duel between the rival camps gets nastier.

"We will not sit quiet any longer. Kumaraswamy is levelling baseless allegations day in and day out, unable to stomach the development programmes initiated by the Yeddyurappa government," an agitated food and civil supplies minister V Somanna said.

He claimed that scams during Kumaraswamy's tenure as chief minister would be exposed and charged the JD (S) leader with indulging in threatening tactics. "We are not living in a feudal system", Somanna said.

Somanna condemned the attack on the residence of BJ Puttaswamy, political secretary to chief minister, by JD(S) workers last night, hours after he levelled land-grab allegations against the family of Deve Gowda.

The minister said during a television show last night, Kumaraswamy who joined the debate through telephone, made disparaging remarks against him and flayed the "way Kumaraswamy is conducting himself".

At a separate press conference, Puttaswamy alleged that some 50-60 activists of JD(S), instigated by Kumaraswamy, attacked his house last night and his life was in danger.

"Nobody can threaten me. I will not yield. I am not scared of them [JD(S)]", said 72-year-old Puttaswamy, who has already lodged a police complaint on the attack in which his house was targeted with flower-pots and stones, damaging car and smashing window-panes.

Puttaswamy charged Kumaraswamy and his brother Revanna with abusing the chief minister with obscene language, while being "intolerant" towards to anybody levelling allegations against their family.

"Deve Gowda wants only his family to be in power in Karnataka. No others should rule. Only his sons tell truth. Others are all corrupt and engaged in irregularities", he said targeting the former prime minister.

State unit BJP spokesperson S Prakash assailed the attack and said "it is not the birthright of Devegowda family to attack opponents. This kind of hooliganism will not be allowed".