The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP blamed for spread of terrorism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP blamed for spread of terrorism

Special Correspondent

BJP trying to spread hatred among communities for the sake of getting votes: Kumaraswamy

JD(S) ridicules Yeddyurappa for criticising Governor
Budget changed at last minute, says Kumaraswamy

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

A VOCAL FAN: A thrilled Lambani woman whistles while the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda arrives at the State-level Banjara conference in Bangalore on Tuesday.

BANGALORE: The former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday alleged that the politics of hatred taken up by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka to keep its vote bank intact was the main reason for the youth taking to terrorism in the State.

Participating at a Banjara community convention here in which he was felicitated for setting up a Banjara Development Corporation when he was Chief Minister, Mr. Kumaraswamy referred to the episode of the arrest of several suspected terrorists in different areas of the State and said: “The BJP is trying to spread hatred between communities just for the sake of votes. But this is giving raise to problems like terrorism.”

Mr. Kumaraswamy referred to the above issue while taking exception to BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa’s reported statement that he was pained over community and caste-based politics being practised by some politicians in the State.

Doubting the concern of Mr. Yeddyurappa, he said: “Let him (Mr. Yeddyurappa) touch his heart and say if he has not come up by practising community and caste-based politics?”

Mr. Kumaraswamy ridiculed Mr. Yeddyurappa for attacking Governor Rameshwar Thakur for the tardy implementation of budgetary schemes especially the failure to release any money for some of the schemes like setting up of Banjara Development Corporation. “Mr. Yeddyurappa himself was the Finance Minister till September. If he had real concern towards the oppressed sections, he could have released funds for the schemes taken up for their development instead of making a hue and cry now. Who prevented him from releasing funds for development schemes when he was in power?,” Mr. Kumaraswamy asked.

Taking exception to Mr. Yeddyurappa’s statement that people had already forgotten the Janata Dal (Secular), Mr. Kumaraswamy asserted that it was not possible to distance his party from people as its leaders had taken up the cause of common people and the oppressed sections.

Referring to Mr. Yeddyurappa’s claims that the real contest in the State was only between the BJP and the Congress, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the BJP and the Congress were actually competing with each other regarding controversial issues like land scams. Pointing out that the two parties were accusing each other of involving in land scams and were holding protests in this regard, Mr. Kumaraswamy sarcastically remarked that: “Mr. Yeddyurappa is right. The real contest regarding land scams is only between the BJP and the Congress.”

He said the BJP had been making an issue about the 20-month deadline regarding his chief ministerial term right from the day he took over as Chief Minister. By making a big issue of it, the BJP had tried to prevent the bureaucrats from obeying his orders as Chief Minister.

He alleged that Mr. Yeddyurappa had abruptly included the names of several institutions in the Budget in the last minute. “He even picked up slips from his pocket during the Budget session and started listing them for providing financial allocation. My only objection was that we should not discriminate among communities while making financial allocations. Such benefits should be given to all the needy sections,” he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the Janata Dal (Secular) was committed to the welfare of the oppressed sections and poor people. He said perhaps he was the only Chief Minister to stay in the house of a Banjara family as part of his village stay programme.

The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and a host of the Janata Dal (Secular) leaders, including party State president Merajuddin Patel, M. C. Nanaiah and N. Cheluvarayaswamy attended the function. The party’s organising secretary Sheela Nayak thanked Mr. Kumaraswamy for the schemes taken up for the welfare of the Banjara community.

Folk artistes from the community presented a performance of different forms of folk arts, including Devara Kunita and Kolata, besides rendering folk songs on the occasion.

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

Karnataka