Bangalore: Kumaraswamy lambasts Siddu's plan to introduce cheap liquor
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
 
Bangalore, May 30: Former Chief Minister and State JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy, who has been designated as the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly by virtue of securing a larger vote share than BJP even though both parties are tied at 40 members each, on Thursday lambasted chief minister Siddaramaiah’s move on introducing cheap liquor in the State.

Kumaraswamy, who took the oath as member of the State Legislative Assembly after the resignation of his Lok Sabha seat, spoke to reporters in the assembly lobby after the end of the second day’s sitting and declared that his party would oppose the government if it went ahead with the plans to introduce cheap liquor in the State.

''We will never allow the State Government to accord a red carpet welcome to the liquor mafia,” he said.

With the counting of votes for the election from the Periyapatna assembly constituency scheduled to take place on Friday, the day when the House is slated to elect senior Congress party leader Kagodu Thimmappa as the Speaker and also the day when the leader of opposition’s post will finally be decided either through victory or with the number of votes polled, the JD(S) leader said his party had always opposed from the beginning manufacture and sale of cheap liquor to gain popularity.

''The liquor barons may have financed the ruling Congress Party during elections but the latter need not pay them back by allowing manufacture and sale cheap liquor,” he said.

Kumaraswamy pointed out that despite stiff opposition, the JD(S)-BJP coalition government had banned the sale of arrack in the State.

When there were other avenues to fill up the government treasury why should the government want to introduce cheap liquor, he asked.

He recalled a hooch tragedy in the outskirts of Bangalore when Siddaramaiah was deputy chief minister holding excise portfolio that had claimed more than 30 lives.

The people of the State have demanded cheap liquor.

When this was the ground reality, he said why should Siddaramaiah be in a great hurry to introduce cheap liquor, he said adding: JD(S) would not allow the government to do it in the interest of health of the people.
 

''Proud to Occupy the Seat Held by My Father”
 
Kumaraswamy said he does not believe in walking out and moving adjournment motions in the House as it would be a waste of the time of the Assembly session.

''The need of the hour is to bring back the past glory of the Assembly by holding discussions which were of public importance,” he said declaring that his party believed in playing the role of a constructive opposition.

As an opposition party leader, he promised to take into confidence of not only BJP but also of independents, KJP and BSR Congress for the smooth functioning of the Assembly.

He said he was privileged to serve as chief minister and also as Opposition Leader in the Assembly like his father H D Deve Gowda.

''It is an historic moment for me to occupy the same chair that was occupied by Deve Gowda now as Opposition leader and earlier as the Leader of the House and Chief Minister,” he said.

He promised to function under the guidance of his father.

Kumaraswamy said his party MLAs have elected him as leader of the JD(S) Legislative Party reposing faith on him.

“I will strive to live up to the expectations of the people and function as an effective and constructive opposition leader,” he said.
 

Jaya’s Demand for Rs 2500 Cr Compensation ''Childish"
 
Kumaraswamy took strong exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's demand seeking a compensation of Rs 2,500 crore towards crop loss following delay in release of water and termed it as ''childish.”

He felt such frivolous demands should not be entertained and must be rejected outright.

The JD(S) leader contended that it has become a habit for the Tamil Nadu Government to pick up quarrel unnecessarily with Karnataka for everything.

Karnataka has been badly hit due to failure of monsoon in the last two years because of which many cities had been facing severe scarcity of drinking water, he said pointing out that the problems and sufferings of the State’s farmers were colossal.

''When all the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin are empty how it is possible to release to Tamil Nadu?,” he asked whether Jayalalithaa expected the State to produce water out of nothing.