Bengaluru, (DHNS): A day after Union Minister Arun Jaitley took potshots at Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy for shedding tears at a JD(S) event, Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar came to the latter’s rescue by calling him an “emotional being”. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Shivakumar said it was wrong on the part of Jaitley to have labelled Kumaraswamy as a “tragedy king”.

“He (Jaitley) shouldn’t have said that. Does this mean that we (opposition) can say anything about the Prime Minister? What did the BJP do in Goa? The BJP has always indulged in politics of convenience. In a democracy, alliance matters, not numbers. Kumaraswamy should be allowed to prove his mettle. He has always been an emotional being.

I have seen him get emotional even during elections. Not everybody can be hard-hearted,” he added. “I’m also soft-hearted” When reporters joked that Kumaraswamy wasn’t as tough as Shivakumar, the minister said, “I’m also soft-hearted.” Long-time political arch rivals, Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy have warmed up to each other after the formation of the coalition government.