Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 |
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Staff Correspondent
BELGAUM: The Janata Dal (S) rally here on Monday turned out to be an occasion for its leaders to spit fire at the Congress and the BJP. Almost all prominent leaders, including the party supremo and former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda; the party's State unit President, N. Thippanna; and the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, trained their guns on the two parties at its `Samvardhan Samavesh,' where the turnout was fairly good. The huge response to its meet in Shimoga recently and an unexpected turnout of more than 25,000 in Belgaum keeping in view the party's insignificant presence is a clear indication that the Janata Dal (S) is gearing up for elections. The party, which got only four of the more than 50 Assembly seats in north Karnataka, is making extra efforts to strengthen its base in the region. According to a party leader, people, mainly from Gokak taluk and other places such as Athani, Chikkodi, Bailhongal, Kittur, Nippani, Ramdurg and Saundatti came in more than 1,000 vehicles for the meet. To give the event a local appeal, the venue was named after Rani Kittur Channamma and the stage after Sangoli Rayanna, both of whom fought against the British.
Common factor
The turnout was such that the food prepared for about 25,000 people got over in no time, leaving many hungry. There was a common factor in every speech. While projecting the Janata Dal (S) as the only party that cares for and protects the interests of farmers, leaders showered praise on the leadership of Mr. Deve Gowda and Mr. Siddaramaiah. The waiver of interest on farm loans, the midday meal for 65 lakh students "without using the money from online lottery," the Rs. 3 a kg rice and wheat through PDS, regularisation of IP sets etc., were all attributed to the Janata Dal (S). It was only the Revenue Minister, M.P. Prakash, who made a passing reference to the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh. In his address, Mr. Prakash saw a message in the huge response the party got in Shimoga and here, and it was that politics' cannot be just for politics alone. People are redefining politics and giving a new meaning to it — development, progress, realisation of dreams and nation building. It was time for the parties to respond to that.
People's support sought
Mr. Thippanna expressed helplessness at the party not living up to the expectations of the people even as most of the promises made in the poll manifesto have been fulfilled. He sought the people's support to strengthen the party. The former Union Minister C.M. Ibrahim said neither the BJP nor the Congress had ever thought of waiving interest on farm loans even when the State was facing drought. He asked the people to compare the one-year rule of Mr. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister and the six-year rule of A.B. Vajpayee and decide which party was pro-farmer. Mr. Siddaramaiah, who spoke about the relief given to farmers and weavers, dwelt at length on how he had improved the State's finances.
Interest waiver
He castigated the BJP for not responding to the farmers' demand on waiver of interest although it was in power at the Centre for six years. The BJP is a party of capitalists and the elite, he charged. Referring to the demands for more relief measures for farmers and other sections of society, Mr. Deve Gowda said: "You have every right to seek more relief measures and ask us to take up development works, but you have to give us full power." As part of the exercise to strengthen the party more such meetings will be held in other districts soon, he said. The Minister of State for Textiles, Satish R. Jharkiholi, said the party workers should publicise the government programmes among the people. The Minister for Small Savings and Lotteries and Science and Technology, Basavaraj Horatti, and the Minister for Industries, P.G.R. Sindhia, listed out the achievements of the State Government and the commitment of the Janata Dal (S) to the people.
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