Karnataka   

Srinivas Prasad hits out at Gowda

Staff Correspondent

MYSORE: For the first time after rejoining the Congress, former Union Minister V. Srinivas Prasad lambasted the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president, H.D. Deve Gowda, for "compromising on secular ideals."

Addressing the gathering at a "thanksgiving" function organised by the Congress here on Sunday following the party's victory in the Chamundeshwari Assembly bypoll, Mr. Prasad criticised Mr. Gowda on various counts, including sending industrialist M.A.M. Ramaswamy to the Rajya Sabha and "compromising on the secular ideals" while forming the coalition Government in Karnataka. He said that Mr. Gowda, who opposed the JD (S) joining hands with the BJP initially, later lauded Mr. Kumaraswamy for doing so.

Referring to the decision of the BJP to build a Ram temple at Ayodhya, he sought to know whether Mr. Gowda, who condemned the demolition of Babri Masjid till recently, would acknowledge BJP's stand and continue to support that party in the State.

Referring to the attack by Mr. Gowda on the election observer, Raymond Peter, in the run-up to the polling, Mr. Prasad sought to know how Mr. Gowda could seek electoral reforms while he himself was violating the code of conduct. He criticised the reaction of Mr. Kumaraswamy who was reportedly caught by the media violating the norms. He did not spare even Home Minister M.P. Prakash for his alleged compromises during the formation of the coalition Government.

Defends re-entry

Defending his re-entry into the Congress, he clarified that he left the party because of "the conspiracy" hatched against him by some local leaders a few years ago. With the change in the situation, he had rejoined the party.

Pointing out the reasons for leaving the JD (S), Mr. Prasad said he developed differences with Mr. Gowda, when Mr. Ramaswamy was elected to the Rajya Sabha and Mr. Kumaraswamy was appointed as working president of the Karnataka unit of the party.

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