Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 10: Reports appearing in a Kannada daily said that rebel JD(S) legislator, Zameer Ahmed Khan, who along with some other rebels, is on the threshold of joining the Congress, has been instructed against using harsh words against Hindus. This, it is being analyzed, reflects the party's modified strategy to advocate soft Hindutva as opposed to extreme Hindutva policies followed by BJP.

Zameer has been clearly told not to issue statements that apparently are meant to strongly appease minorities and also to desist from issuing statements which might deeply hurt the Hindus, particularly Vokkaligas. He has been told to exercise restraint over his language when addressing the general public, the daily said, quoting reliable Congress party sources.

In the past, some of Zameer's statements against certain BJP leaders, which were issued in an effort to enthusiastically deride BJP, contained elements which could hurt Hindu sentiments. He had also projected as if Tipu Jayanti was celebrated in Vikasa Soudha because of his efforts. He had also claimed that when the police stopped his followers from entering Vidhana Soudha, he had taken special initiative to take them to the programme.

Zameer has been particularly critical of JD(S) leaders like H D Deve Gowda, former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy and H D Revanna.

The JD(S) rebel leaders, Zameer Ahmed, Akhanda Srinivas, Iqbal Ansari, Bheema Naik, Cheluvaraya Swamy, Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda and Balakrishna, it is learnt, have demanded extending them a grand welcome into the Congress in an elaborate function that should be organized in the city. The Congress leaders had planned to admit them into the party in the presence of national president, Rahul Gandhi, who will be arriving in the state by the month end to take part in certain programmes of the party. It is said that Zameer and others want Rahul Gandhi to visit the state separately for the purpose of attending a programme with the coming together of six or seven lac people at Palace Ground in a grand manner. They feel that joining the Congress now will provide JD(S) with an opportunity to initiate action against them in rules relating to defection. They say that they will take the responsibility to organize this programme on their own if Rahul Gandhi is agreeable to attend it during February.

It is said that Congress leaders want to discuss this issue at the meeting of state leaders convened by Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi on January 13.