The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Chief Minister rushed for time

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 03, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Chief Minister rushed for time

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was forced to cut short his speech at the function to unveil the statue of Babu Jagjivan Ram here on Tuesday because one of his party MLAs, H. Anjaneya, insisted on “reading a citation”.

Mr. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa were scheduled to participate in the unveiling of the statue at the western gate of the Vidhana Soudha at 10 a.m. and the International Non-Violence Day function organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture and the Department of Information at 11.30 a.m.

With the surging crowd that had gathered blocking the dignitaries’ path on to the dais, the statue unveiling function was delayed by 30 minutes. Mr. Yediyurappa cut short his speech to accommodate Mr. Kumaraswamy so that both of them could attend the 11.30 a.m. function where Mahatma Gandhi’s “India of my dreams” pledge would be taken, which is done nationwide at the same time.

Even as Mr. Kumaraswamy was walking towards the microphone and gesturing to waiting officials that he would keep his speech short, Mr. Anjaneya, Dalit leader, blocked his way pleading that he had a citation to be read.

Although he said he would not take much time, the MLA went on and on about the achievements of the Kumaraswamy Government and read out a long list of demands, including implementation of internal reservation and a housing scheme for the cobbler community.

Mr. Yediyurappa, through an official, requested Mr. Anjaneya to cut short his speech. But Mr. Anjaneya would not stop. “The problems of Dalits are more important. Sir, you should listen to our demands. All Dalits are behind Mr. Kumaraswamy,” he said.

Sensing the mood, Mr. Yediyurappa left the venue.

When Mr. Kumaraswamy began his speech, it was 11.20 a.m. He had hardly read a couple of pages of his prepared speech when a senior official reminded him about the pledge to be taken. Mr. Kumaraswamy then read out the pledge, joined by the audience.

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