Mysuru: “If the Janata Dal (S) which claims to be a secular party had not joined hands with the communal BJP party, the latter would not have come to power in the state. By aligning with a communal party, JDS has done injustice to secularism and in the forthcoming assembly election we are not going to join hands with such a party”, said chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Speaking after inaugurating the Mysuru Zone Minority Convention organised by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Minority Department at the Congress Office premise near Mysuru Railway Station on November 30, he said, “There is no meaning in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas (collective efforts, inclusive growth) when his party is not including all the community people including minorities. After leaving minorities including Muslim and Christians, how can they say Sabka Saath. They don’t have the moral right to come out with such statements or slogans. During Uttar Pradesh assembly election where there were more than 400 assembly seats, BJP being a so called national party has not given a single seat to minorities. Opposition Leader in Legislative Council and senior BJP leader Eshwarappa, reacting to this, had stated that until and unless the minorities clean the RSS office, they would not be given a ticket to contest. For BJP, India means Hindutva but for us everyone is equally important because India is a secular country and it is known as Republic India. I am a Hindu and even constructed Ram temple in my village. We respect and treat all communities including Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs equally. The previous government had allocated just Rs 300 Crore for minority welfare but I have allocated Rs 2750 Crore in the last budget”. He also mentioned that Congress party believed in inclusive growth.
“BJP which are trying to rewrite the constitution which was implemented in 1950 is not having any respect for it. They are not even fit to rule this country. In the name of religion and Hindutva, they are spoiling the mindset of the people and are indulged in creating differences among people. There is nearly 125 crore population in this country. For overall progress of this country, the growth of all people irrespective of any caste, community, religion is important. But BJP failed to provide justice to all people. They don’t have respect for equality. The only party which has all these qualities is Congress party”, added Siddaramaiah who called upon the people to come forward and vote in the forthcoming assembly election. He also mentioned that power comes and goes and just for power or to be in power, the JDS in the name of secularism sharing power with a communal party, was an injustice to secularism.
‘Mission 150 has come down to mission 50’
“During campaign for by-elections in Nanjangud and Gundulpet constituencies, Yeddyurappa had said the mission of the party was to win 150 seats in the forthcoming assembly election and also mentioned that the by-election result would play a decisive role for the forthcoming assembly election. After we won both Nanjangud and Gundulpet by-elections by nearly 21,000 and 11,000 votes respectively, the mission 150 went phut. After the results, both state BJP leader Yeddyurappa and BJP national leader Amit Shah were disappointed and stooped to the levels of addressing senior Congress leaders in singular terms. During their Parivarthana rally, Ananth Kumar Hegde, Shobha Karandlaje, Yeddyurappa used singular terms against me. When they don’t know to respect people they are unfit to be elected representatives. People will teach them a lesson during coming election”, said Siddaramaiah.
‘Yeddyurappa is having empty box’
“Former chief minister Yeddyurappa keep on telling that he had documents to prove the wrong doings of the Congress government and also against me but not even once he has come out with any evidence to prove his allegation. His irrelevant statement will only damage his reputation”, added Siddaramaiah.
‘The demands of minorities will be met in a phased manner’
During the convention, the minority department came out with a resolution demanding proper security, economic upliftment, cashless health facility, representation for minority women, reservation in allotment of houses, establishment of minority education and properties of Wakf to be restored to which Siddaramaiah assured to take them up in a phased manner. He also assured to provide assistance for permanent construction of Congress Bhavan at new premise.
Parameshwara, President, KPCC said, “If any insult is done to Ambedkar in the name of rewriting constitution we can’t tolerate.” He also called upon the minorities to vote for Congress which had sacrificed a lot for minorities especially for the Muslim community.
Ministers including U T Khader, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Tanveer Sait and various minority leaders attended the convention.
