MANGALORE: A notable achievement of the Karnataka Development Front (KDF) Government in the State was the maintenance of communal harmony, H.D. Deve Gowda, president of Janata Dal (S) said here on Sunday.

Answering questions at a press conference, he said there had been no communal flare-up. Asked about his assessment of the other achievements of the Government, he said, "You have been reading them in the advertisements in newspapers." However, a lot still needed to be done.

He said that the Datta Peetha issue could be resolved by following the method adopted by the Dharam Singh Government.

The former Prime Minister said that he had not interfered in the administration and would not do so in future also.

Mr. Deve Gowda said Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh were recently affected by floods. But the Union Home Minister made a belated aerial survey in the State. People know how much funds were given to each of these States for relief measures. "I will leave it to the people to decide whether discrimination has been done to Karnataka or not."

Mr. Deve Gowda said that nobody had asked for his resignation as president of the party.

District-level meets

Mr. Deve Gowda said the party would organise district-level conventions after the completion of his tour of the districts.

He said he was touring districts to sort out some problems related to lack of coordination in the units. The tour was also aimed at setting right the drawbacks, if any, in the district units.

He interacted with party workers and leaders separately.

Mr. Deve Gowda said that the party did not intend to organise a convention like the one held by the Congress in Bangalore recently.

The former Prime Minister said that the district-level meets would be organised after the completion of his tour of Hyderabad Karnataka and Old Mysore regions.

Mr. Deve Gowda made it clear that his tour was not to prepare the party for elections. It was only an attempt to strengthen the party.

Mr. Deve Gowda said that the grassroots workers were the assets of the party. His party would not compromise on principles, the former Prime Minister said.

The Opposition in the Assembly should introspect if they it behaved responsibly during the session, he said. He would visit Udupi on Monday.

Vasanth Bangera, president, Dakshina Kannada unit of the party, K. Amarnath Shetty, former Minister and vice-president of the State unit, Y.S.V. Datta, MLC, and M. B. Sadashiva, party leader, were present.

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