As per a MyNation report, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy has admitted to PM Modi’s ‘remote-control’ remark. While addressing a gathering in Galburga, Karnataka PM Modi had said, “Kumaraswamy is remote-controlled by others. This coalition government is against farmers and they would never forgive this regime. Kumaraswamy is not getting any cooperation from his coalition partner. The government has not waived off farm loans. Though the government sitting in Bengaluru is unable to provide any relief to farmers, the central government is directly depositing money into farmers’ bank accounts.”
In his address PM Modi took a sharp dig at the Kumaraswamy government and alleged it of working like a remote-controlled dispensation. PM Modi’s remark is very much relevant given the position of the present coalition government in the state of Karnataka. Last year, Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had broken down into tears at a public event expressing deep discontentment towards the coalition with the Congress. A teary-eyed HD Kumaraswamy had stated, “All of you are happy because your elder or younger brother has become the chief minister. But I am not happy. I am swallowing my own pain like poison, like Vishakantha (Lord Shiva, who drank poison to save the world).’’ He had therefore likened coalition with the Congress to poison.
The Congress and the JD (S) did not have any pre-poll alliance or understanding. Kumaraswamy’s comments had therefore hinted that the alliance had become overbearing for him. It suggested that since Congress was the senior partner in the alliance, Kumaraswamy may not have been able to function as a free chief minister. PM Modi’s remarks must be seen in the same light. PM Modi had put across the point that Kumaraswamy does not enjoy freedom or autonomy as the chief minister of Karnataka.
According to MyNation report, Kumaraswamy has now admitted that there is nothing wrong in PM Modi’s remark. As per MyNation, he said, “Prime Minister is not wrong in saying it.” The Karnataka chief minister added, “Decisions I make in order to run the state are not always executed by me. Someone else will do it too.” He also said that he was willing to discuss what he has done as a chief minister and what Prime Minister Modi has done for the farmers. This admission corroborates the fact that the Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy doesn’t enjoy the kind of freedom that a chief minister should ideally enjoy in a democratic set-up.