The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP threatens to organise dharna by pensioners

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Friday, Mar 14, 2008
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BJP threatens to organise dharna by pensioners

Special Correspondent

‘Sandhya Suraksha’ scheme being ignored, says party

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Welcome party: B.N. Bachche Gowda (second from left), being welcomed into the BJP in Bangalore on Thursday by party leaders M. Venkaiah Naidu, Basavaraj Bommai, B.S. Yeddyurappa and D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday warned Governor Rameshwar Thakur that more than 50,000 senior citizens would stage a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan on Saturday if he failed to take steps to ensure payment of old-age pension under the ‘Sandhya Suraksha’ scheme and issue ration cards to families living below the poverty line (BPL).

Addressing presspersons here, the party’s chief ministerial candidate, B.S. Yeddyurappa, alleged that the implementation of the scheme introduced by him when he was Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister had slackened under President’s Rule. On Saturday, the BJP would organise a ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ protest by senior citizens demanding the immediate payment of pension and that BPL cards be issued.

Pointing out that the Congress had termed the budget presented by him “populist and election-oriented”, Mr. Yeddyurappa remarked that such was the importance of those schemes that it had been continued in the State Budget for 2008-09.

Senior party M. Venkaiah Naidu, MP, said the BJP was preparing for elections to the Assembly in Karnataka as well as the Lok Sabha. “We are ready and happy to face these polls (if held) together or separately,” he said.

He reiterated that the Congress was still trying to put off elections in Karnataka fearing defeat. “But it can only put off the muhurat (time) for the defeat, but not the defeat itself,” he remarked.

Mr. Naidu ridiculed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ongoing ‘Bharat Darshan’ campaign, which is set to enter Karnataka soon. “Nothing is to going to happen despite the hype created over it by the party and the media,” he said.

Bachche Gowda joins

Janata Dal (Secular) leader B.N. Bachche Gowda joined the BJP in the presence of senior party leaders on Thursday.

A large number of supporters had come to greet the former Minister on the occasion. Mr. Gowda, who had lost the previous Assembly elections from Hoskote, said he was quitting the JD(S) as his capabilities were not being used properly by that party. He said he was pained that the JD(S) did not transfer power to the BJP as had been agreed upon. “This is an unpardonable blunder by the JD(S),” he said.

Welcoming him, Mr. Yeddyurappa and Mr. Naidu said that Mr. Gowda’s entry would strengthen the party.

The BJP also began meetings of its district units on Thursday to review poll preparations and evolve a poll strategy, besides holding consultations on the potential candidates for the elections.

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