Mysuru: Former MP Prathap Simha has cautioned that B.K. Hariprasad and Priyank Kharge, whom he dubbed ‘BK’ and ‘PK’, are the biggest obstacles and political conspirators against Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

He said that the Congress could be reduced to ‘dust’ in the State if the two leaders continued making controversial and unsavoury statements.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Simha was reacting to remarks made by actor Prakash Raj, who had described Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as “traitors to the nation.” Simha hit back, calling Prakash Raj and MLA Pradeep Eshwar “madmen” and claiming that society had already sidelined them.

“Prakash Raj has made a statement that for 13 years, Modi has not arrested him, yet he continues to roam around making such claims. If he is not mad, what else should we call him? Who arrests lunatics and puts them in jail?” he asked sarcastically.

Simha ridiculed Prakash Raj as a failed Lok Sabha candidate who had lost his deposit and described Pradeep Eshwar as a “guarantee baby” who had managed to become an MLA only for five years.

“On record, I say that the Congress will not give Pradeep Eshwar a ticket in the next election. They have already chosen someone else,” he claimed.

With one-and-a-half years still left for the elections, Simha said that D.K. Shivakumar has allowed Pradeep Eshwar to rant as per his wishes.

On Prakash Raj’s demand for a Special Assembly Session on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Simha said, Bengaluru had traditionally recorded a higher number of voters than its population, resulting in voter turnout of only 40 to 50 percent earlier. “After SIR, voter turnout has risen to 80 percent. He should understand this reality,” Simha said.

He also accused the Congress of making baseless allegations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Referring to the 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Simha recalled that then Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan had postponed the elections by 21 days even after polling had been completed in 200 Constituencies. “Rajiv Gandhi’s ashes were paraded to gain sympathy and P.V. Narasimha Rao came to power. Did we call that fraud?” he asked.

Simha also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he was behaving like a stand-up comedian. “This does not suit his personality. No one should insult another’s mother. His cheap conduct will be answered by the people in the elections,” he said.