Puttanaiah terms Kumaraswamy's stay in villages as cheap drama

Bellary, Sep 10 (UNI) Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha President K S Puttannaiah today termed as a ''gimmick and cheap drama'', Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy staying in remote villages.

''It makes no difference even if the Chief Minister stays overnight in a Dalit's house when all facilities equivalent to that of five-star hotels are provided to him. It gives some meaning if a Gram panchayat member or President stays in a Dalit's house,'' he told reporters here.

Mr Puttannaiah, who was here as part of the 20-day campaign for zero capital agriculture system taken up by the Sangha, accused Mr Kumaraswamy of misusing the State police machinery by deploying over 700 police personnel at the villages where he stayed to ensure his security.

Questioning the Chief Minister's concern for ryots in the light of the increased incidences of farmers' suicides, he ridiculed Mr Kumaraswamy for not visiting the house of any peasant who had ended his life. He also came down heavily on JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda for maintaining silence over farmers' problems despite calling himself a son of the soil.

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