Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Friday said that political battles should be fought on political fields and not in offices.
The former Karnataka minister was speaking following his appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in the alleged money laundering case involving National Herald.
Shivakumar’s brother and Lok Sabha MP DK Suresh also appeared before the financial probe agency in the case. Both brothers were questioned for over five hours by the ED.
Shivakumar and Suresh appeared before the ED at its headquarters here on Friday around 10.30 am and the statements of both the Congress leaders were recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
While entering the ED headquarters, Shivakumar, who has been known as the troubleshooter shooter of the party in Karnataka, said, “I am a law-abiding citizen. I have respect for the law. They summoned me, I requested time, and they said no. So I have come today. “Let me see. Let me hear them. Let me speak to them. Let me answer whatever information I have,” he added.
Coming out after his questioning, Shivakumar said, “Was asked about the payments to Young India. They asked a lot of questions about my family and my institution. I was not carrying all the documents. I will send them over as early as possible by mail.”
“I requested time (to appear before the agency) earlier when the summons was issued. They asked me to wait till all the procedures are over,” Shivakumar said.
Responding to a query from The New Indian, Shivakumar’s brother Suresh said, “I have given all the answers. If they are not satisfied, as they were asking for some details about our company and some other personal details. I will definitely submit all the relevant documents and cooperate if they call.”
It is pertinent to mention that Shivakumar was questioned by the ED in connection with the case on September 19 this year.
He was asked about his association and financial association with the National Herald. The ED also asked about his brother Suresh’s association and financial association with the National Herald case.
On Thursday, the ED questioned Telangana Congress Working President J Geeta Reddy and another party leader, Gali Anil Kumar, about the ₹20 lakh donations they made to the National Herald.
Earlier, on October 3, to a question by The New Indian on the fresh ED summons to Shivakumar during the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, veteran leader Jairam Ramesh said, “It’s not surprising. The politics of vendetta continues, and every effort will be made by the Modi government and the Bommai government and every puppet government to derail and disrupt the yatra.”
“We are not going to be derailed and disrupted, and we will continue. And today, by the end of the day, we will walk and cover 66 km in Karnataka,” he stated.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is currently in Karnataka. On Thursday, Sonia Gandhi joined the yatra for the first time along with her son Rahul Gandhi.