Shivamogga: In a hurry to criticize former chief minister Siddaramaiah for calling Union Home Minister Amit Shah “dumb”, Rural Development Minister K S Eshwarappa called Siddaramaiah a “duffer”.
Addressing the media here on Tuesday, September 17, after participating in the free health check-up organized to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday at the Veer Shaiva Kalyan Mandir, he said, “Siddaramaiah is dumb and a duffer. Don’t make a controversy out of my calling Siddaramaiah ‘dumb’.
“I have used the word ‘duffer’ in relation to Siddaramaiah’s actions. It is not that duffers don’t work hard, they do. I’ve great respect for them,” clarified the minister.
Speaking about the Hindi imposition controversy, he said, “Amit Shah is not imposing Hindi on the whole country. It is a language that unites everyone. However, the first priority will be given to Kannada. The criticism of Hindi Divas and Hindi as the national language, is just to defame PM Modi and Shah.”
About the upcoming by-polls the minister said, “We will be facing the by-elections under the leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party state president Nalin Kumar Kateel and we are confident that the party will emerge victorious with a clear mandate.”
