Hegde men forced me to quit JD(U), says Minister

BANGALORE, FEB 2: Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, V Shrinivasa Prasad, today said he was “virtually forced” to leave the Janata Dal (United) and join the Samata Party by “some persons” who were with Ramakrishna Hegde and also because he felt “sidelined” in the JD(United).

Explaining the circumstances under which he identified himself with the Samata Party after the proposed merger of the two parties failed to materialise, Prasad told mediapersons here that his self-respect was hurt as some “sycophants” of Hegde were dissatisfied with him on the ministership issue and looked at him with “contempt”.

He did not name these persons but said that they felt Hegde would have become a minister if he (Prasad) had not accepted the ministership offered to him. Prasad clarified that Hegde himself had told him to accept the post when it was offered to him. He also pointed out that Samata Party leader George Fernandes had not forced him to join his party.

Prasad, aDalit who quit the Congress to join the erstwhile Lok Shakti, accused the state JD(U) leadership of ignoring him while announcing state and district committees office-bearers.