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Monday, May 19, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Leaders make out a case for support

Karnataka Bureau

While Rahul Gandhi seeks votes for stable governance, Mayawati talks of ‘revolution’

For votes: (Clockwise from top left) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing an election meeting in Bidar on Sunday. BJP leader L.K. Advani seeking votes for the party candidate at Khanapur in Belgaum. BSP supremo Mayawati and party leaders waving to the crowd in Gulbarga.

Bangalore: Political leaders went hammer and tongs at their adversaries in the campaigning for the third phase of elections scheduled for May 22.

Leaders of major parties such as Congress, BJP and BSP made whirlwind tours of the areas going to the polls seeking votes for stable governance, development and all-round welfare.

In Bidar, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asked voters to elect a party that could provide a stable government and was concerned about the development of the State.

He was addressing a party campaign meeting in Bhalki Assembly segment. The party candidate is Ishwar Khandre.

Mr. Gandhi said the Janata Dal (S)-BJP coalition government had neglected the development of the State. Criticising the BJP, he said the NDA government had not been able to deal firmly with terrorism.

Mr. Gandhi said the attack on Akashardham temple in Gujarat occurred when the BJP was in power.

Mr. Gandhi introduced Narsinghrao Suryavanshi, MP and party nominee for Aurad (reserved) seat and Rajshekar Patil contesting from Humnabad.

Congress in-charge for Karnataka Prithivraj Chauhan; the former Maharashtra Chief Minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar; Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal; and the former Minister Bhemanna Khandre were present.

Progress

“Development” and “progress” were the two key points in what was less than a ten-minute speech of Mr. Gandhi in Belgaum.

“You should elect a party which speaks of development and progress, alleviation of poverty, and promises to address unemployment,” at a public meeting.

He said that the development and welfare programmes initiated by the Congress-led UPA Government should reach the poor.

AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Prithviraj Chavan introduced the party candidates in Belgaum district, including the former Minister D.B. Inamdar (Kittur), Feroz Sait (Belgaum North) and Mahantesh Kaujalgi (Bailhongal) to the people.

Social justice

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday asked voters to choose the Bahujan Samaj Party candidates for bringing about a “revolution” in the State, like in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking in Bidar, Ms. Mayawati said the BSP in Uttar Pradesh had provided “social justice” and promised that if the party came to power in Karnataka BSP it would ensure “justice” to all sections of society.

Congress, BJP targeted

Ms. Mayawati accused the Congress and BJP of not protecting the quota rights of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

She said that thousands of posts reserved for SC/STs had not been filled and the number of backlog vacancies in the country was alarmingly high.

Addressing a public meeting in Gulbarga, Ms. Mayawati alleged that all governments at the Centre after Independence had been anti-reservation and anti-poor.

The economic policies pursued by Congress and BJP governments were blatantly anti-poor and pro-rich.

She said it was only in Uttar Pradesh, after the BSP came to power, that all backlog vacancies had been filled.

“All that is required is the will and commitment for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the oppressed sections, which was lacking in all other political parties,” she said.

She said the BSP was a cadre-based party and it was the funds provided by workers that kept the party going and not the money provided by industrialists and “that’s why we are independent and take pro-people decisions.”

Singling out Congress for attack, Ms. Mayawati questioned the contribution of that party and its governments for the welfare of the Muslims, who traditionally supported it.

“The economic condition of the Muslims is poor,” she said

She asked the Muslims to identify the parties that really worked for their welfare and support them.

The BSP leader said she favoured extension of reservation benefits to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims and added that she had already written to the Union Government in this regard. However, this reservation should be extended only after increasing the percentage of reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Ms. Mayawati called upon the people of the State to defeat the BJP, Congress and regional parties and support the BSP which aimed at the welfare of all sections of society, including upper castes.

Party general secretaries Satish Chandra Mishra and P.G.R. Sindhia spoke. The former Minister D.T. Jayakumar and other leaders were present.

Dawood’s deportation

BJP leader L.K. Advani drew the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan’s reported statement that it would deport Dawood Ibrahim if India provided evidence against him.

He said that Pakistan for the first time had admitted that Dawood Ibrahim was in that country.

Mr. Advani, who was visibly disappointed over the less than expected turnout at the election meeting organised in support of BJP’s candidate Prahalad Remani at Khanapur in Belgaum district, said that terrorist activities had escalated during the UPA regime.

He alleged that there had been several terrorist attacks since the UPA came to power at the Centre.

But none of the terrorists arrested had so far been convicted during the four years of UPA governance. No charge sheets had been filed against the persons arrested in connection with terror attacks in Mumbai, Bangalore and several other places during the last four years, he charged.

“Only a truly nationalist party like the BJP can protect the country and democracy and not those who indulge in vote-bank politics,” he said.

Money power

Expressing alarm over money and muscle power ruling the elections, Mr. Advani underscored the need to cleanse Indian politics of this menace.

He was addressing an election rally at the Nehru Stadium in Hubli.

‘Gujarat phobia’

Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi said that the Congress leaders were hit by “Gujarat phobia” and that Gujarat dominated even in their dreams.

Addressing a public meeting in Gulbarga, Mr. Modi sarcastically remarked that there was no Congress leader who did not think or talk about Gujarat every day.

Mr. Modi said that Congress leaders kept on remarking that they would not allow “another Gujarat in Karnataka,” but no Congressman could do a Gujarat in Karnataka. He said that Gujarat under the BJP had become a model State.

When every other State was resorting to severe power cuts, both in urban and rural areas, Gujarat was self-sufficient in power and even in remote villages there was power was available 24 hours. Mr. Modi said that because of the soft approach adopted by successive governments in Karnataka, the State had become a haven for terrorists.

Gulbarga South Assembly constituency candidate Chandrashekhar Patil Revoor and Gulbarga North Assembly constituency candidate B.G. Patil were among those present.

[Inputs from M.B. Girish (Bidar), Vijaykumar Patil (Belgaum), T.V. Sivanandan (Gulbarga) and Girish Pattanashetti(Hubli)]

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