The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP to organise convention of slum dwellers, backward classes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 07, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP to organise convention of slum dwellers, backward classes

Special Correspondent

October 28 meet to counter those organised by AHIND

OUTLINING PLANS: BJP State unit President Jagadish Shettar addressing a press conference with party leaders (from left) Aravind Limbavalli, R. Ashok and K.S. Eshwarappa in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party's convention of slum dwellers and backward classes to counter those organised by a federation of backward classes, minorities and Dalits (AHIND) will be held on the Palace ground here on October 28.

State BJP President Jagadish Shettar told presspersons here on Tuesday that the Government has ignored the interests of the people and is busy in protecting its own interests. The Government collected Rs. 50 from slum dwellers for issuing identity cards to them instead of title deeds to their houses. People are suffering from what he called the unholy alliance between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular). The convention has been organised to highlight the failures of the Government on various fronts, he said.

Besides the failure to tackle problems related to admissions to professional courses and unemployment, the Government has failed in protecting the State's share of Krishna waters and storage in the Alamatti Dam. The Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments are planning to file affidavits in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the State to store only 509 m of water in the Alamatti Dam, he claimed.

The former BJP State President K.S. Eshwarappa, MLA, charged the Congress with conspiring to take advantage of the rift between JD(S) leaders H.D. Deve Gowda and Siddaramaiah.

The latter, who fell prey to the political tactics of the Congress, failed to safeguard the interests of backward classes when in power. Now he has no option but to join the Congress and get sidelined after some time, he said.

Mr. Eshwarappa said some Congress leaders are using the AHIND conventions to exploit the sentiments of the backward classes and minorities and as a forum to criticise Mr. Deve Gowda.

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