From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 10: Just back from a 16-day grueling padayatra from Bangalore to Bellary and the spectacular success of the mammoth rally in the heartland of Bellary’s all-powerful Reddy Brothers, KPCC president R V Deshande was in his elements at the Congress Bhavan here on Monday August 9 when he lambasted the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP regime for its hurried manner in getting the controversial Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Bill passed.
Deshpande criticised the chief minister and other state BJP leaders for meeting President Pratibha Patil and demanding immediate assent to the Bill and demanded that the President should not give her assent as it was passed in the state Legislature without any debate in the midst of a dharna by the entire opposition.
Addressing a news conference, the KPCC president said there were valid reasons for refusing to give assent to the Bill. First, it will lead to untold misery to the farmers, as they would be forced to look after aged and unproductive cattle.
A large number of minorities would be affected without cattle meat and the Bill was part of the RSS agenda and governor H R Bhardwaj had rightly referred it to the President, he added.
Hundreds of people depending upon leather industry would become jobless, if the Bill was given assent, Deshpande said.
Referring to the chief minister’s meeting the president seeking her assent to the Bill, he said that he had discussed the issue with the union ministers to take it up with the President.
A delegation of state Congress leaders would meet the President in this regard, he said.
Asked about former chief minister and state Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Kumaraswamy's remarks that the Congress was silent when the JD (S) raised the illegal mining issue in the legislature and now had taken out a padayatra to Bellary, Deshpande advised Kumaraswamy not to indulge in competitive politics.
He mentioned that he did not remember even one occasion when the JD (S) started any agitation against the illegal mining and the Congress was ready for a public debate on the issue.
The Congress leader criticised the revenue and agriculture ministers for not rushing relief materials and other help to the villagers/farmers affected by heavy rains/floods.
The BJP, he said, was more busy with its core committee meetings than with the sufferings of the people.
Condemning US senator Charles Schumer for calling the Indian IT sector as ‘chop shop’, he said that this remark had been made with political motives, as it was election time in that country.
Referring to media reports about the dip in the state IT export growth rate in 2009-10, Deshpande said that it grew only by 1.4 per cent as compared to 23 per cent in 2008-09 over the previous year.
It is time that the state government call a meeting of the captains of the IT industry and the NASSCOM for taking immediate corrective measures, he said.
The KPCC president condoled the death of Anjanappa, Hanumanthappa and Biresh, Congress workers from Halivana village in Harihara taluk, while returning home in a vehicle after attending the party rally at Bellary when it dashed against a stationery lorry. He also announced a compensation of Rs1 lac to the next of kin of the deceased.