JDS chief Deve Gowda slams graft allegations against HD Kumaraswamy, backs PM Modi
Bengaluru, Jun 15 (PTI): JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Sunday strongly defended his son and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy against corruption allegations, calling them "baseless" and part of a deliberate smear campaign.
Speaking at the launch of the statewide JDS tour and ‘missed call’ membership campaign here, the former Prime Ministe said, "Some individuals are systematically spreading false narratives against Kumaraswamy. No one has ever succeeded in these smear campaigns, and no one will."
“Some people simply cannot tolerate Kumaraswamy. They cannot digest his personality and the love he commands from people. No one else in the country has waived farmers’ loans like he did.”
Responding to the remarks that the JD(S) will collapse after him, the veteran leader said, “Never forget, failure lays the foundation for success. Just because we lost (the election), it doesn’t mean we’ll lose heart. The only trouble I have at this age is with my legs, not with my mind. I haven’t lost my memory, and I won’t. Let those who think otherwise hear it clearly.”
Asserting that defeat cannot deter him and there was no question of despair, he exuded confidence that the JD(S) will rise again.
“Morarji Desai handed over this party to me . No matter how much Janata Dal splits, this party has survived and will survive even after I am gone...”
Rejecting accusations that JD(S) is a family-run party, he said, “This is not a family party. It is a party of its workers. Many great leaders have held office through this party, and many are still serving. Some have held positions and left, but the party has endured. Between two national parties, JDS has remained a strong regional force.”
Gowda also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "towering leader" and a "global figure".
“We aligned with BJP because of him (Modi). We joined hands with the Prime Minister. We earned his trust. I did not request him to make Kumaraswamy a minister. It was Modi himself who included him in the Cabinet and gave him key portfolios,” the former Prime Minister said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
