Cong should set its house in order for role in opposition unity ahead of LS poll: HD Deve Gowda
Bengaluru: Amid the buzz around forging opposition unity ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said on Sunday that the Congress should set its house in order first.
In an interview to PTI, he also said there are many options before opposition parties and this nation has a wealth of leadership.
Upbeat about JD(S)' prospects in the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka, the veteran leader who has withdrawn from active campaigning due to age- related ailments said it will set the tone for other state elections this year and the the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Amid a tough electoral battle involving the two national parties--ruling BJP and the Congress, Gowda expressed confidence of his JD(S) coming to power and said it was seeking votes in the name of "an inclusive social and development vision, the Pancharatna programme."
That the party was 'limited' to Old Mysuru region is a "clever propaganda of the national parties," the party patriarch averred.
National parties come up with "tall and false claims", he said in his written replies to PTI's queries.
Q&A
Q: How do you see JD(S)' prospects in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections? What is going to be the JD(S) strategy and focus of the campaign?
A: My party will do well across Karnataka. A lot of people who are cynical and focusing only on the two national parties will be surprised. We are not seeking votes for a divisive agenda. We are seeking votes in the name of an inclusive social and development vision the Pancharatna programme. My party will come to power and we will implement the programme.
Our leader H D Kumaraswamy has just completed a statewide tour to publicise this programme. The response he has received is overwhelming. Our party strategy is very simple work hard and be sincere with people, don't keep bluffing to them and don't divide them.
Q: There is a perception in some quarters that JD(S) has not been able to expand its base considerably beyond old Mysuru, what is being done on that front?
A: That we are limited to the region is a clever propaganda of the national parties. We have always had MLAs from across the state and from across communities. Somebody has to go through the list of MLAs and constituencies since 1999 to understand what I am saying.
Yes, the Mysore region has offered us maximum support and we are grateful for that. This time we will be far more successful in all regions of the state. As a minister, chief minister and prime minister I have worked for everybody, I have never discriminated between regions. Vested interests spread lies. In my career I never hired expensive PR agencies to counter the lies. God and the people who have nurtured me for over 60 years know the truth.
Q. JD(S) has set a target of 123 seats to form an independent government. Some critics say it is unrealistic. What gives you confidence that it is achievable?
A:Our hard work and development vision gives us the confidence. I don't care about the cynicism of our critics and political opponents.
Q: What is your take on national parties BJP and Congress, and have they delivered when in power in Karnataka.
A: I don't want to comment on this. Our leaders H D Kumaraswamy and C M Ibrahim (JDS state president) can offer a proper analysis on this. I can only say that the national parties are in the habit of making tall claims and false claims. People have seen through their circus and falsehoods.
Q: How important is Karnataka elections and what is going to be the implication of its outcome on the national political scene?
A:Karnataka will set the tone for other state elections this year and the parliament elections in 2024. It has always done so and will do this time too.
Q: Your take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his performance, as he completes 9 years in office soon, and the ongoing debate regarding democracy in India under his rule?
A:I participated in Rajya Sabha on all issues, be it agricultural issues, farm laws, Covid, union budgets, the economy, the North East, Kashmir etc., I have spoken in detail. It is on record in Parliament and on my social media account. If somebody cares to look at them they will know what my assessment is of the BJP government at the Centre. I have always taken my job seriously and continue to do so at 91. Congress party is not the only opposition party in this country.
Q: What do you think the role that the Congress needs to play in forging opposition unity with an eye on 2024 Lok Sabha polls?
A:First the Congress should set its house in order. There are many options before opposition parties and this nation has a wealth of leadership.
Q: What is your view on disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as MP, after being convicted in a defamation case?
A: I don't want to comment separately. My party's senior leaders have spoken on it already. All I can say is it is very unfortunate.
Q: Do you still feel there is a possibility for revival of Janata Parivar and the Third Front, or is it a closed chapter?
A: Everything is possible. By everything I mean everything. I don't believe in third or fourth front, I believe whatever we do, we'll be the first front to defend this nation and democracy.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
