Davanagere, April 6 (IANS). Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday took a dig at former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and BJP and opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswami. He said that these people have joined BJP to save political existence.
He reminded the media of the past comments of these leaders against BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While answering the questions of journalists in Davanagere, CM Siddaramaiah questioned the credibility of these leaders, who have now joined the BJP.
He asked, “Don’t you know what all these leaders had earlier said about BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Now, to save their political survival, they have joined BJP. What moral right do they have to point fingers at us?”
The Chief Minister stressed that the people of the state have appreciated the guarantee schemes of the Congress government and accused the BJP of opposing these pro-poor initiatives.
He said, “BJP is against the poor and also against the Constitution. The people of the state have no reason to support such a party.”
Union Minister H.D. On Kumaraswamy’s statement that he does not do dynastic politics and the public itself has brought him into electoral politics, Siddaramaiah hit back and questioned the defeat of Kumaraswamy’s son in Channapatna. He said, “If it is so, then why was his son defeated? It is not wrong to contest elections when the public wants, but when the public rejects him, then do they say the same?”
Responding to a question on whether Minister Jameer Ahmed had not campaigned vigorously in Davangere South, the Chief Minister clarified that Jameer was actively working in various areas, including Kerala and Bagalkot, and had also campaigned in Davangere.
He said, “Zameer is a disciplined soldier of the party. He has sent a clear message in support of Congress to the voters and party workers.”
Siddaramaiah also targeted BJP leader and opposition leader in the council, Chalawadi Narayanaswami. He said he was in Congress earlier, benefited from the party, and later joined BJP for similar benefits. He asked, “Do you know what he had said about BJP earlier?”
He alleged that former PM Deve Gowda and his son, Union Minister Kumaraswamy, have joined hands with the BJP to save their political relevance, and they should remember their old statements against the BJP and the RSS.
Criticizing JD(S), Siddaramaiah said that when he was the state president of the party, the party had won 59 seats, but since then it has not been able to reach that figure and has now come down to 19 seats.
Responding to Kumaraswamy’s charge that the Congress government was not supporting industrial development in the state, the Chief Minister sarcastically said, “A man who cannot ride the horse given in front of him cannot be called brave or heroic.”
–IANS
ASH/DSC
