Bengaluru: In a sharp criticism of the BJP, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that it would be impossible to remove him from office as long as he had the blessing of the people.

He said this at an event in Koujalagi town in Belagavi district, where he inaugurated a statue of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna and the Rayanna Fort.

Several leading personalities, including Ministers Lakshmi Hebbalkar and Satish Jarkiholi and MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi, attended the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Siddaramaiah said, “Sangolli Rayanna, a loyal warrior of Rani Chennamma, was a brave hero. When the British attacked Rani Chennamma’s court, it was Rayanna’s fight and bravery that led to victory.

“Although he lost the second battle, Rayanna escaped the clutches of the British and formed a guerrilla army which continued the guerrilla war which caused great trouble to the British. However, it was our own people who betrayed Rayanna and handed him over to the British. Due to this betrayal by our own people, Rayanna fell into the hands of the British. They knew that Rayanna would not be armed while swimming, which made it easy to capture him… it was our people who gave the British this idea,” he added.

“Such traitors still exist among us. The BJP is constantly plotting to overthrow Siddaramaiah. But as long as I have your blessings, it is impossible to remove me from office,” the senior Congress leader said.

The Karnataka Chief Minister further criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said, “The old ideology of the BJP is that a person from a lower class of society should not become the chief minister or come to power. Therefore, they are hatching a dangerous conspiracy against me, even though I have done nothing wrong. But as long as I have the blessings of the people, their conspiracy will not succeed,” he alleged.

The BJP has said it will not end the protests until Siddaramaiah resigns after Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot gave the go-ahead to initiate an inquiry against him in connection with the MUDA land scandal.

(IANS)