Senior Congress leader draws flak for remark on former PM Deve Gowda
Bengaluru, Jul 1: A former Congress legislator K N Rajanna got a backlash for his statement that former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda would soon be carried by four people, meaning that the 88-year-old's end was near. Later, Rajanna tendered an apology.
At a function at Madhugiri in Tumakuru district of Karnataka on Thursday, Rajanna appealed to the electorate to vote for him in the upcoming Assembly election as this would be his last election.
This will be my last election. I am not going to contest elections anymore even if you ask me to because I am already 72. After five years, I will be 77, that is when my hands and legs will be shaking, Rajanna told the gathering.
Suddenly, some one in the crowd reminded him of Deve Gowda, who is still active in electoral politics.
Quickly Rajanna said, Deve Gowda is presently being carried by two people. Soon, four people will carry him.
The remark drew the ire of the family of the JD(S) leader, the Opposition Congress as well as the BJP.
There are people who say Deve Gowda does not have strength anymore. I have to demonstrate as to how strong I am. I would like to say that there is something called strength - God, Gowda said at the party office - JP Bhavan - during an event Janata Mitra,' which kickstarted today.
Gowda's son and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said the words of Rajanna display a distorted mindset, and arrogance.
Today, the way a great Congress leader spoke ill against honourable Deve Gowda, exhibiting his distorted mindset, reflects on his culture. I am hurt by those words..., the JD(S) second-in-command said.
He said, I am hurt not because he (Gowda) is my father. I often cry whenever I go to anyone's funeral. The words "carried by four people" show his arrogance. There is someone above us. You are not God, you are just an ordinary human being.
Gowda's grandson and a Member of Parliament Prajwal Revanna said people of Madhugiri, who rejected Rajanna in the previous election, would beat him up for his remark.
Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy who is an MLA from Madhugiri advised Rajanna to respect an elderly politician.
As a friend, I want to tell Rajanna that he should not have said so. Whatever may be the politics, he should not have spoken so, of an elderly politician, Madhuswamy said.
The Congress State president D K Shivakumar condemned the remark.
It is deplorable and inhumane to speak ill of a senior statesman and worshipful Deve Gowda, who has served the State as well as the nation. I ask Rajanna to apologise, Shivakumar said.
Apologising, Rajanna said he has respect for Gowda and his intention was not to hurt him, his family or his well-wishers.
Those who heard me have perceived me wrongly. However, I will not get into any argument. I regret if my words have hurt him, his family or well-wishers, and I apologise, Rajanna said.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
