I'm being punished for speaking truth: Suspended Cong MLA

Senior Karnataka legislator R Roshan Baig, who was suspended by the Congress on Tuesday for attacking its state leadership, on Wednesday said he was a "disciplined soldier of the party" and was being punished for speaking the truth.

Asserting that his comments against state Congress leaders were the opinion of the party workers, he said he was in the Indian National Congress headed by Rahul Gandhi and "not in the Siddu (Siddaramaiah) Congress".

"Last night, I got the information that I have been suspended from the party...Is it a crime to speak the truth? What I have said is the truth," Baig said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said he had not criticised Gandhi and that he continued to be a "disciplined soldier of the party".

"My criticism of state leaders is true. Is speaking the truth a crime? They have taken action against me. There are some senior leaders and friends in the party like Ramalinga Reddy, H K Patil, Mallikarjun Kharge and K H Muniyappa. I will meet them and discuss with the party workers on whether to go to Delhi and speak there," he added.

The Congress suspended Baig, a rebel MLA, on Tuesday night with immediate effect, citing his "anti-party" activities.

Hitting out at Karnataka Congress leaders for the party's dismal show in the Lok Sabha polls, Baig had recently held Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah's "arrogance" and KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao's "immaturity" responsible for the "flop show".

He had also called Congress general secretary K C Venugopal a "buffoon".

Baig had dropped hints of quitting the party and appealed to Muslims to "compromise" with the situation on the BJP-led NDA returning to power at the Centre.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had issued a show-cause notice to the MLA for his conduct, to which he had not responded.

Noting that Gandhi had offered to resign as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president, taking responsibility for the poll defeat, Baig said, "When we criticise here in the state for the party winning only one seat in the Lok Sabha polls, action is being taken."