From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 20: Congress MP D K Suresh, who is seeking re-election from his Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, reminded JD(S) leaders that it was the Congress party which made their leaders prime minister and chief minister.
Responding to JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s statement that ‘’BJP is a trusted alliance partner and has not chopped the neck like Congress did,’’ Suresh said JD(S) leaders must remember how they begged the party to extend support to the United Front government and enabled H D Deve Gowda to become the prime minister.
Suresh, who is KPCC chief and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar’s brother, told media persons near his residence in Bengaluru on Wednesday that it is easy to talk about the past and make wild allegations.
The Congress leader said his party had made JD(S) leaders as a prime minister and chief minister and has made enormous contributions and sacrifices for the country.
"If Congress had not extended outside support to enable JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda to become the first and perhaps the only Kannadiga to become the prime minister, nobody would have remembered him and Kumaraswamy would not have become one of the 30 chief ministers of Karnataka,’’ he said.
To a question on Kumarawamy’s statement that he would campaign more vigorously after his return from the hospital, Suresh said he does not want to
comment on his health or all his statements at this stage.
"I am praying to god that he (Kumaraswamy) should recover quickly and be active in politics,’’ he said pointing out that, ‘’We can perform better only when our opponents in politics are strong.’’
Asked about the rift among BJP and JD(S), the Congress leader said: ‘’If I speak about secularism, you people ignore it. I can’t speak and give statements to suit you.’’
‘’If you people really want to talk about the past statements of political leaders, why don’t you show the video clips of Deve Gowda declaring that he wishes to be reborn as a Muslim in his next life’’ or that ‘’I (Deve Gowda) will leave India if Modi becomes prime minister. There is no need for national parties. Karnataka needs regional parties.’’
Suresh said he will be happy if the media shows old videos of Deve Gowda’s statements or those of Kumaraswamy criticising BJP.
‘’I am seeking the support of the people and demand wages from them for the
work I did for the people of my constituency,’’ he said and wanted to know if media can pay him wages.
To a question on the speculation that Kumaraswamy will be contesting from Mandya, Suresh said he was not bothered about what JD(S) decides. ‘’Our candidate in Mandya is strong and will win because people are supporting Congress for its work and the guarantees. We are facing the election on the basis of the developmental work of the government,’’ he said.
On the BJP leaders making a huge hue and cry over the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa in the city, he said the BJP leaders are raking up irrelevant and minor issues and making them into huge controversies to polarise the voters.
Asked about JD(S) and BJP leaders in Old Mysuru region joining Congress, he
said he was busy in election campaign and questions on leaders from other parties joining the party must be directed to the party leaders and a final decision will be taken by the high command.
To a question on Union Minister Shobha Karadlaje claiming that people from
Tamil Nadu are coming from Krishnagiri and other places to set off bombs in the city, Suresh said: ‘’She is an union minister. The Centre has all the investigation agencies at its command. It is the Centre’s job to track and arrest terrorists. She should ask the Centre to investigate.’’
‘’Making controversial statements with political motives and blaming people from Krishnagiri for coming to set off bombs implies that she has the information and the Centre is deliberately suppressing facts,’’ he remarked criticising Shobha Karandlaje and the BJP for politicising even matters of national security.