Mangalore: Nagaraj Shetty Formally in JD(S), HDK Predicts End of Congress, BJP
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Sep 24: Former chief minister and state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy (HDK) on Monday September 24 said that the people of this nation have been losing confidence in the national parties viz Congress and BJP because of their anti-people policies, and that by 2013 both will be on the verge of extinction. 

He was addressing the JD(S) party workers’ convention at Town Hall on September 24. Former BJP leader and former CDA chairman Nagaraj Shetty and his supporters joined JD(S) on the occasion.

Training guns on the Congress-led UPA government at the center, the HDK said that the economic policies initiated by the government have let down the people. "Increasing the price of commodities and welcoming foreign companies to make investments are UPA's only achievements," he mocked, adding, "Most of the decisions taken by the leaders are in the interests of industrial bigwigs while the comman man's concerns are neglected."
 
Coming down heavily on the BJP-led state government; he said education, shelter and health sectors need to be the major priorities while drafting any government policy, "but the state BJP is busy playing politics with religious sentiments of the people. Young minds need to think on these issues," he pointed out.
 
Kumaraswamy next turned to his crusade against former CM B S Yeddyurappa and said that now he has understood the fact that it is people of this state who brought him up in the political arena, and thus is advocating their empowerment. He predicted that in the coming assembly election slated to be held within 5-6 months time, BJP will be washed away from the state.
 
He demanded the state government to initiate a scheme for pregnant women (of BPL families) of getting Rs 5,000 per month for their nutritious food and medical expenses. "When politicians can travel by aircraft, the government can definitely afford the scheme. It may cost only up to Rs 100 crore to the state treasury. Those who are ruling the state need to have open approach, he said.
 
If JD(S) comes to power, former CM said he has already drafted a scheme wherein 3 lac differently-abled persons will be guaranteed jobs. In addition, like in the case of widow pension, even unmarried girls will get monthly pensions, he said.
 

Nagaraj Shetty wants to see Kumarswamy’s government again
 
On the same occasion, former minister B Nagaraj Shetty joined JD(S). HDK handed over the party flag to him and welcomed him to the party.

Speaking on the occasion B Nagaraj Shetty said that in these days when selfish politicians are running the show, there is need for people to see H D Kumarswamy as the chief minister of the state again. Digging up his RSS background, Shetty asserted that he wants to restore the name and fame of DK district. "Even in RSS I was taught how to love and serve people without selfishness," he said.
 
Interestingly, Nagaraj Shetty entertained the party workers by singing the Kannada song ‘Akashave beelali mele, nanendu nimmavanu’, to which he received rousing applause.
 
Leader K Amarnath Shetty presided. Madhu Bangarappa, Zafrulla Khan, Jameer Ahmed Khan, Jyothi Reddy, M G Hegde, M B Sadashiva, S L Bhoje Gowda, U R Sabhapathi among others were present.
 
People from various parts of the district joined JD(S) in good numbers.