JD(S) leader and four-term MLA AT Ramaswamy from Karnataka joins BJP
New Delhi, Apr 1: Four-term Karnataka Assembly member and Janata Dal (Secular) leader AT Ramaswamy joined the BJP on Saturday, saying he was impressed with the ruling party and its leadership.
Ramaswamy joined the party after resigning as an MLA. He represented the Arkalgud constituency in Hassan district, a traditional stronghold of JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda. The BJP has been trying to hard to strengthen its presence in the region.
He joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Anurag Thakur and also met party chief JP Nadda.
Thakur said it is clear that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can give an honest government devoted to good governance.
Nadda tweeted after the meeting, "I welcome AT Ramaswamy ji into the BJP. His decision to become a member of our party is a reflection of the massive support for our ideology and vision for Karnataka. I'm certain his legislative experience will strengthen the party and help us to serve Karnataka more diligently."
Claiming that he was not an aspirant for any "MLA post", Ramaswamy said he was a victim of "money power" as he often raised the issue of corruption and other irregularities.
Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 10.
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BJP's main agenda is to keep minorities in fear, alleges Stalin
Chennai (PTI): DMK President M K Stalin has alleged that the BJP's main agenda is to keep the minorities in fear, and everyone is aware of what is happening in the states governed by the saffron party.
Stalin further alleged that Muslims continued to be subjected to attacks.
"Now, a situation has arisen where even Christmas could not be celebrated peacefully. Christians are being targeted. The entire country is a witness to what is happening in Manipur. The BJP's plan of action is that a state of insecurity for minorities should spread like a wildfire across the country," he told PTI in an interview.
That was why it first enacted the CAA, and the next was an amendment to the Waqf law, and now it is "desperate" to amend the FCRA, he alleged, and lashed out at AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.
"Palaniswami, who supports all these three amendments and has formed an alliance with the BJP, does not have any concern for the welfare of minorities. However, the DMK is always firm in its commitment to ensure that India must always be a secular state; that people belonging to all religions must be equally respected and that the Constitutional safeguards conferred on minorities must be upheld. If any of these is threatened, the DMK will be the first party to raise its voice against it," he said.
Denying that the BJP made the minorities feel insecure, BJP state vice president M Chakravarthy said the chief minister was making the allegation due to the "fear that the Christian and Dalit votes would go to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by actor-politician Vijay."
He was depicting the BJP as a bogeyman in an attempt to create unnecessary apprehension among the minorities, the BJP leader told PTI.
On FCRA, Chakravarthy asked, "What's wrong with ensuring accountability in the use of funds?"
