JD(S) not family enterprise, has helped many grow, asserts Deve Gowda
Bengaluru, Jan 13: Faced with criticism of reducing JD(S) to a family enterprise, former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda Sunday asserted the notion was wrong as the party helped many grow including ex-chief minister and Congress strongman Siddaramaiah.
Blowing a bugle for the upcoming Lok Sabha election from his constituency and JD(S) stronghold of Hassan district, the 86-year-old Gowda said, "Our critics often say JD(S) is the political party of Deve Gowda's family. Have a look at these facts as well.
"We have made A H Vishwanath state president. Prior to that, I went to Krishnappa's house (asking him) to join our party and observed fast for it. It (JD-S) is not Deve Gowda family. Didn't we give prominent positions to Siddaramaiah, C M Ibrahim, Merajuddin Patel?"
Gowda lamented that an impression has been created that the JD(S) belonged to Deve Gowda family as his son H D Kumaraswamy was made the chief minister. He clarified that the 'pressure' to make his son chief minister came from Congress and he could not help but bow to the wish.
"There was a big news that it was a father-son enterprise. Is it so easy to convince all the 37 MLAs to make him (Kumaraswamy) chief minister? They (Congress) came from Delhi and insisted me to give my approval. An hour-long discussion ensued because I did not agree for it. Finally they forced me to accept it ," the former prime minister said.
Making an appeal to the party workers to work towards making the JD(S) strong, Gowda asked them to ponder over the future of the party if it is not in power.
"Please don't take it otherwise. There is no need to believe that we can resort to anything for power. How to save this party? Today, we have a coalition government but what will happen tomorrow," said Gowda.
The event also witnessed JD(S) leaders attacking their coalition partner in the government, the Congress. The two parties have agreed to fight to the upcoming Lok Sabha election together.
However, the two parties have not yet reached a consensus over sharing of seats. Instances of bickering often come to fore between the alliance partners as was seen at Hassan on Sunday.
In an angry rebuttal to Congress, Arkalgud MLA A.T Ramaswamy said the JD(S) was ready to sit in the opposition rather than tolerating the "arrogant" behaviour of Congress.
"The arrogant statement that we are twice your size and you have to listen to us' must go. I would like to say it absolute clearly that if this arrogance damages the interests of farmers and poor people, we will not think twice to sit in the opposition," said Ramaswamy.
The JD(S) MLA warned Congress that the party was under no pressure to run the administration by appeasing it.
He urged the party workers to gear up to see a Kannadiga unfurling the tri-colour from the Red Fort as had happened in 1998 when Deve Gowda became the prime minister.
Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna was present on the dais.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
