The Hindu : Minorities more aware of rights, says Sangliana

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 12, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

Minorities more aware of rights, says Sangliana

By Our Staff Correspondent

VIRAJPET, MARCH 11. The Congress cannot take the minority community for granted anymore and look at it as a mere vote bank, H.T. Sangliana, former DGP who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently, has said.

Addressing a public meeting at the Town Hall here on Wednesday, he said Muslims, Christians, and other minority communities had become aware of their rights. They were now asking the Congress what they would get in return if they supported that party, Mr. Sangliana said.

If elected, he would ensure that non-corrupt and efficient police officers were posted throughout the State.

He said that though several people had ruled the country in the past, they could not stay in office for long as they did not have a team of dedicated ministers. However, the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, was lucky on that count as he had a team of committed ministers, Mr. Sangliana said.

The former DGP said he had joined the BJP to use it as a political platform to continue serving the public.

Mr. Basavaraj lashed out at those criticising the BJP as a communal party. The party would not have made efforts to improve the relationship between India and Pakistan if it was communal.

Senior Muslim leaders were joining the party, which indicated that the people believed that the BJP was the real protector of the minorities, he said.

The Vajpayee Government had steered the country through difficult times such as the Kargil conflict and the natural calamities in Gujarat and Orissa.

H.D. Basavaraj, former MLA, accused the Congress of claiming credit for Centrally sponsored programmes such as Akshara Dasoha.

M.M. Chengappa, BJP leader, called upon the party workers to apprise the voters in rural areas on the need to elect BJP candidates in all the three Assembly segments in the district and the Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency.

S.G. Medappa, President of the BJP Kodagu unit, said people were frustrated with the Congress rule in the State and would teach it a lesson in the coming elections.

The President of the BJP Slum Morcha State unit, Kailas, noted that the achievements of the Vajpayee Government were sure to return it to power. Karnataka, the only hope for the party in the South at present, was sure to elect a BJP Government.

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