H.D. Kumaraswamy will not support BJP in anything illegal, accuses Congress of allowing growth of Hindutva ideology in Karnataka
The Hindu
He cited recent incidents in Chamarajanagar and Arsikere where the Congress Minister and Congress legislator, respectively, were allegedly intolerant to cultural activities depicting Lord Ram.
Accusing the Congress of allowing the growth of Hindutva ideology in Karnataka, former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said that the Janata Dal (Secular) would not support all activities of the BJP.
Addressing mediapersons in Bengaluru on January 29, he said, “Because of your (Congress’s) mistakes, Mandya is beginning to resemble the coastal districts. People of Mandya are soft, tolerant and innocent. Is saffron politics growing because of me? Saffron is growing because of you (Congress). Your party is strengthening such (Hindutva) organisations.”
He cited recent incidents in Chamarajanagar and Arsikere where the Congress Minister and Congress legislator, respectively, were allegedly intolerant to cultural activities depicting Lord Ram.
In his first reaction on communal issues after joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the former Chief Minister said, “I am telling BJP that I will not support them in any illegal activities. Even today my stand on hijab issue remains the same.”
He pointed out that he had questioned the lack of transparency in collection of donations for building the Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya. Incidentally, the controversy over hoisting the saffron flag in Keragodu in Mandya district of the first major communal incident in Old Mysore region, where JD(S) has a strong base of supporters, after the BJP and JD(S) entered into an alliance.
The former CM was reacting to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s accusations that the JD(S) leader, alongside the BJP, was inciting violence by visiting Keragodu village in Mandya district that has remained tense after the district administration brought down a saffron flag from a 108 feet tall flag post and hoisted the tricolour in its place.
“What connection do I have with the incident? I did not instigate violence. BJP had organised the protest and they had invited me. My followers had also invited me. During my 13-minute speech at Keragodu, I did not discuss Hindutva or the bhagwa (saffron flag). I have only spoken about the failure of the government and also the local legislator who requires maturity and training. I have asked the Chief Minister to take action against erring officials.”
Political economist Parakala Prabhakar has described the exit poll results as “fudged figures”, saying that those would benefit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) only. “False predictions were given with the sole objective of helping the NDA in rigging during the counting,” alleged Mr. Prabhakar, after releasing a book titled ‘Avineeti Chakravarthi Narendra Modi’ penned by former Minister Vadde Shobanadreeswara Rao, here, on June 2 (Sunday).