Mysuru: Former MP and Congress leader A.H. Vishwanath has claimed that the Congress leaders in the State including Siddharamaiah are forcing him to quit.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Vishwanath said “I have never said that I will quit Congress, but the party leaders are creating such a situation. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Dr. G. Parameshwara called me over phone on Wednesday night to tell me that the leaders could not invite me for meetings as they were directed to do so by Siddharamaiah. Is the Congress pledged to the Chief Minister?” he questioned.  “Instead of building the party, the leaders are destructing it. I had called upon Karnataka Congress In-charge General Secretary K.C. Venugopal to learn about his role,” he said.

When asked whether he was joining JD(S) party, Vishwanath said that he never pleaded with JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda to induct him into the party. “I don’t want to become a Minister. Why should I plead with anyone? I have respect for Deve Gowda,” he said.

“Congress party is nobody’s property and State leaders must realise that several sacrifices were made to bring Congress to power,” he said.