The Hindu : Front Page : No truck with BJP: Gowda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 08, 2005

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No truck with BJP: Gowda

Special Correspondent

Attempts to destroy Karnataka coalition Government decried

BANGALORE: In a politically significant statement, the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president, H.D. Deve Gowda, has firmly ruled out any association between his party and the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said the JD(S) would stand by the commitment it gave the Congress while forming a coalition Government involving the two parties in Karnataka.

In an interview to The Hindu here on Sunday at a sensitive juncture in Karnataka politics, Mr. Gowda said he was pained to note that a section of the media, apparently acting at the behest of some political vested interests, was attempting to destroy the coalition Government. He said: "All reports in the media that the JD(S) is in touch with the BJP to form an alternative Government in the State are false and mischievous. It is all driven at ousting the Dharam Singh-led coalition Government, which has had a smooth run thus far. Speculative reports are a threat to the survival of democracy in this country."

Mr. Gowda said that by now the Congress high command should be aware of the identity of the political leaders attempting to drive a wedge between the Congress and the JD(S). The Union Government has the machinery at its command to identify such elements, and it is for the Congress to take necessary action.

Misleading information

His information was that some Congressmen, particularly those who had quit the Janata Dal to join the Congress, were carrying misleading information to the Congress high command. Their ire stemmed from the fact that the JD(S) had a cordial relationship with the top Congress leadership. Some of them had reportedly conveyed the impression that the JD(S) was out to finish the Congress in Karnataka.

The Congress had appointed M. Mallikarjun Kharge as president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, and the JD(S) welcomed it. There is no clash of interests here, Mr. Gowda said.

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