Will work towards bringing back BJP-JD(S) coalition govt in Karnataka: H D Kumaraswamy
Ramanagara (Karnataka) (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said he will work together with the leaders and workers of the BJP and JD(S) to bring back an NDA government in the state.
There is no question of his party joining hands with the Congress once again, the JD(S) state president said.
The JD(S) had been in power twice in the state, in coalition with both national parties, despite being a junior partner -- for 20 months with BJP from February 2006 and for 14 months with the Congress after the May 2018 assembly polls. Kumaraswamy was the chief minister on both occasions.
Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the JD(S) joined hands with the BJP and became a part of the NDA.
"I appeal to the BJP and JD(S) workers to work together. Who should become chief minister is not important to me. With your blessings I have been the chief minister of the state twice. Welfare and development of the state and its people are important for me," Kumaraswamy said.
Addressing workers of the BJP and JD(S), ahead of the second day of a week-long protest march from Bengaluru to Mysuru against the MUDA 'scam', he said, "I will work for your sake in the days ahead with the aim of bringing back the BJP-JD(S) coalition government."
"Our fight is ultimately to bring in a pro-people government in the state, which will look after the welfare of every family. We want to bring such a government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For that, myself, B Y Vijayendra (BJP state president) and all leaders and workers from both parties will work together," he added.
Speaking about his experience of running the government with the Congress party in the past for 14 months, the former CM said, "There is no question of going to Congress in my life."
"It was neither there then (2018), nor now. I had not come to you (Congress) with an application to make me the chief minister. You pleaded and made me the chief minister. But I did not utilise the opportunity (as CM) to loot money, I tried to save farmers by waiving Rs 25,000 crore of farmers' loan," he said.
Recalling the support given to him by the BJP and its leader B S Yediyurappa during his first stint as chief minister in 2006, Kumaraswamy said, he did not "betray" Yediyurappa, and that certain political developments and the deeds of some people led to the situation, where transfer of power to the BJP did not happen.
"If Kumaraswamy is known to the people of the state, it is because of the blessings of the people of Ramanagara district, and the good administration we gave by forming a government with the help of Yediyurappa. I cannot forget that the workers of BJP and JD(S) have nurtured me. The coalition between BJP and JD(S) has disturbed the sleep of Congress leaders; they are worried," he added.
In 2006, Kumaraswamy had rebelled and walked out of the JD(S)-Congress coalition with 42 MLAs, reportedly against the wishes of his father former PM and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, citing a threat to the party. He then formed the government with the BJP, becoming the chief minister during his very first term as MLA. Yediyurappa was the deputy chief minister.
Under an arrangement with the BJP for the two parties' chosen leaders to take turns as chief minister, Kumaraswamy helmed the state for 20 months.
But when the BJP's turn for chief ministership came, he reneged on the promise to transfer power and brought down the Yediyurappa government within seven days.
Kumaraswamy occupied the CM's post for the second time after the 2018 assembly polls by forging a coalition with the Congress, despite the JD(S) finishing a poor third in the polls.
But his tenure was short-lived as the wobbly coalition government that he headed collapsed after 14 months in power, because of internal differences.
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FIR against Haryana BJP chief in gang-rape case: Cong seeks his removal, questions PM's 'silence'
New Delhi, Jan 15: The Congress Wednesday slammed the BJP over the FIR registered against the party's Haryana unit chief for alleged gang rape, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi must answer why the accused has still not been removed from the post despite such a serious allegation against him.
Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli and a singer were booked after a woman alleged that she was raped by them in a hotel in Himachal Pradesh's Kasauli. Police have registered an FIR against the two men, officials said.
According to the complainant, the two men made videos of the act and threatened to kill the victim if she informed anyone about the incident.
Addressing a press conference here, Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba alleged that the Haryana BJP state president was involved in the girl's gang rape on the pretext of getting her a permanent government job.
She claimed BJP leaders have been involved in committing crimes against women earlier too.
BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh was accused of sexual harassment and BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was accused of rape, while in Karnataka, the BJP gave a poll ticket to "mass rapist" Prajwal Revanna and the Prime Minister went to campaign for him, she said.
"BJP leaders are able to muster the courage to commit sexual harassment because their party is standing with them," she said, alleging that the prime minister's 'Beti Bachao' slogan is a sham.
"The truth is that daughters have to be saved from BJP leaders only. The Congress government will not allow injustice to happen to any daughter," Lamba said.
Demanding that Badoli be removed from his post, the Congress leader said, "BJP president J P Nadda ji, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Amit Shah ji, the law is in your hands. You create pressure, hence no action is taken against the criminals and daughters do not get justice."
"The BJP will have to answer how their (Haryana) state president is still in his post after such a serious allegation. The prime minister, home minister, BJP Mahila Morcha, BJP's national president and big leaders must answer," she said.
"On one hand, an FIR has been filed against Haryana BJP president on rape charges... in Madhya Pradesh, BJP leader Ajit Pal Singh Chauhan has been arrested for raping a woman. In such an environment, the Women’s Commission, which has the responsibility of providing justice to women, is silent. The daughters of the country are demanding justice, but PM Modi is silent," Lamba said.
Referring to the BJP's Delhi Assembly poll candidate Ramesh Bidhuri's remark that he will make roads which will be like Congress leader "Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks", Lamba said the comments prove how much respect his party has for women.
"Bidhuri's eyes are more on the cheeks of mothers, sisters and daughters than on the roads. Women protested against the lowly statement, after which he had to apologize. However, Bidhuri is continuously making objectionable statements," she said.
The BJP is silent over Bidhuri's statements and is promoting such language instead, the Mahila Congress chief claimed.
