Karnataka   

Kumaraswamy lists his priorities

S. Rajendran

BANGALORE: Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said that his focus over the next eight months of his tenure would be to retrieve prime government land in and around Bangalore, which had been usurped by "land grabbers". Equally, he would keep the focus on reaching out to the poorer sections of society with appropriate welfare programmes, including a scheme to extend credit to petty traders, street vendors and small businesses at low interest rates.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition Government in the State, he told The Hindu that a 20-month term for a Chief Minister was too short to achieve tangible results. Moreover, heading a coalition Government was an unenviable task given the pulls and pressures. "It is not a bed of roses," the soft-spoken Chief Minister confessed. He had done his best for the welfare of the common people, thanks to the support extended by the coalition partner and the people at large.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said: "A section of the people, particularly the political class, thinks that I am functioning in the shadow of my father and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda who they believe calls the shots. Given his vast experience, I am lucky to have his guidance, but the fact remains that I am functioning in the shadow of the common people. They provide me the shade and I am devoted to their cause. My village sojourns have brought about a phenomenal change in the outlook of the administrative machinery. The officialdom travels with me to villages and spot-decisions have obviously made an impact".

The Chief Minister, who said he was overwhelmed by the response he had received from the people so far, said direct interaction with the people would be further stepped up.

"I work for nearly 17-18 hours a day. All petitions received from the people during the "Janata Darshan" and other programmes are being attended to and replies are being mailed to the petitioners."

The gap between the rich and the poor was widening, the Chief Minister said. Unless some concrete measures were initiated, the gap would further increase. The coalition Government would work towards bridging this gap with all sincerity.

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