The Hindu : National : Deve Gowda rules out JD (S) joining NDA

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 07, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Deve Gowda rules out JD (S) joining NDA

S. Rajendran

`Issue-based support to those agreeing with our ideology'

Deve Gowda

NEW DELHI: The former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, has said that the Janata Dal (Secular) is open to extending issue-based support to any political party that agrees with its ideology. But he categorically ruled out joining or even associating his party with the National Democratic Alliance.

He made these clarifications after the publication of an interview he gave to the Rashtriya Sayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece, Organiser, in which he was quoted as saying that his party was willing to extend issue-based support to the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre.

No deviation

He told The Hindu here on Saturday that there was no question of the Janata Dal (S) straying from the party ideology spelt out in 1999. "Merely because the party has associated with the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in Karnataka does not mean that the JD (S) has conveniently changed its party ideology and is now shifting in favour of fundamentalist forces." Asked if his party would enter an alliance with the BJP in the next Legislative Assembly elections, he said: "We will think of it when the time comes."

"Change of guard"

The former Prime Minister said the Janata Dal (S), which was heading the Government, would hand over charge to the BJP as per the power-sharing agreement if the latter stuck to the agreement.

"The Janata Dal (S) is preparing for the change of guard."

The transfer of power would be smooth only if the BJP stuck to the Karnataka Development Programme, he said.

Mr. Deve Gowda said the Janata Dal (S) was committed to protecting the interests of the minorities, farmers, the rural sector and solving the large-scale unemployment problem.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National