The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Ready to face any challenge, declares Kumaraswamy

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Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Ready to face any challenge, declares Kumaraswamy

Special Correspondent

‘JD(S) can’t be intimidated by frivolous charges by vested interests’

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Birthday boy: The former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy being greeted by supporters on his 49th birthday, at the Janata Dal (S) office in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: The former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said he is ready to face any challenge and pointed out that the Janata Dal (Secular) cannot be “cowed by some frivolous charges levelled by vested interests.”

Mr. Kumaraswamy, who turned 49 on Sunday, spent a long time talking to the media and party activists who had gathered in strength to greet him. The former Chief Minister also visited Ramanagara, which he represented in the last Assembly, to meet partymen.

The former Chief Minister said the Congress and the BJP had launched a tirade against the Janata Dal (S) and him. All this was aimed at gaining political mileage. Their efforts would be in vain, as the people were quite intelligent, he said, citing the response he received during a recent visit to Navalgund and Nargund in Gadag district where he spoke to victims of rain and floods.

On the charges being levelled against him, the former Chief Minister said: “If there were any scams during my 20-month rule, the BJP and Congress are free to take the complaint to anyone, including the Governor, Lokayukta and the President. I am ready to face any probe. I did not go against rules and regulations.”

As the State was under President’s Rule, the Congress could get all information relating to the previous administration.

On the five-member fact-finding committee set up by the Congress to unearth the “scams” during his (Mr. Kumaraswamy) administration, the former Chief Minister said: “I welcome it. It should, however, not end up as a political statement. The Congress should take the investigation and prosecution to the logical end.” He said the Janata Dal (S) would launching the party’s campaign for the Assembly elections on January 1.

To begin with, he would undertake an extensive tour of the State and would hold at least two public meetings in each of the four revenue divisions — Belgaum, Gulbarga, Mangalore and Bangalore.

Prior to that, he would tour the Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts, and address a meeting at Sindhanur in Raichur district. On the former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash complaining against the Janata Dal (S) leadership and then leaving the party, Mr. Kumaraswamy said: “while in the Janata Dal (S) he never spoke about value-based politics and internal democracy, which he is doing today. While enjoying power they forget all this.”

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