HDK does not Rule out Joining Hands with Congress
by Florine Roche
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Nov 30: The political situation in Karnataka has reached its nadir with the ongoing tussle between the ruling BJP and the opposition J D (S) led by the indomitable H D Kumaraswamy. Though the Congress is the principal opposition party in the state, it is Kumaraswamy brand of politics which is ruling the roost. Twice he tried to topple the Yeddyurappa led BJP government and almost succeeding in his latest misadventure of “resort politics”. With just 28 seats in a house of 225 seats it is Kumaraswamy who has given the BJP hard times by coming out with incriminating and embarrassing documents implicating Chief Minister Yeddyurappa and his kith and Kin in land scams and other irregularities in the 30 months of its governance.
The mudslinging and accusations and counter accusations of scams and corruption charges continue unabashedly and shows further signs of deterioration. Even though his efforts can be rightly termed as “mission failure”, he has succeeded in denting d BJP’s image beyond repair. Now, though the high moral ground on which he accused the BJP stands exposed following reports of KIADB land sale deed during his Chief Ministership, Kumaraswamy is unfazed and remains steadfast in his single point agenda of toppling the present government. He seems to be in a belligerent mood to continue from where it all began and the forthcoming ZP and TP elections scheduled to be held in December is going to be an acid test to assess his own popularity and the gains by his party following his document –laden blitzkrieg against the Chief Minister.
H D Kumaraswamy who was in Mangalore to attend the Konkani Cultural Convention of Mandd Sobhann on Sunday, 28th of November, 2010, spoke to daijiworld.com in detail on the political miasma in the state and his own role in such a mucky situation.
Q. How do you describe the present political situation in Karnataka?
A. The political situation in Karnataka is in a deplorable situation mainly because of corruption charges against the Chief Minister. Moreover, the government has failed miserably to provide clean administration, maintain law order and continue the process of development. Development of the state is completely hindered. The behavior of the Chief Minister has come under the scanner following his deeded of favoring his family coming to light.
Q. Aren’t the opposition parties equally responsible for the sorry state of affairs in the state?
A. We have essayed our role as the opposition party in the state. It is not the opposition who have destabilized the BJP government. The BJP government was shaky from the beginning which was evident from the behavior of the Chief Minister from day one. During the inauguration of Cooperative Bank function in Bangalore within 3 months of assuming office, the Chief Minister had told a Veerashaiva Swamiji that his government was shaky. Operation Kamala that brought them to power did not bring them stability required to run the government. It was the MLA’s within BJP who destabilized the government and not the opposition.
Q. How do you justify the “resort politics” indulged in by you that led to a series of shameful political developments in the state?
A. It is not that only JD(S) has been adept in resort politics. These days even other political parties including the BJP are holding their meetings in resorts. When the 11 BJP and 5 independent MLA’s came to me saying they had no protection I only tried to help them out by giving protection which I could do by taking them out of the state. They told me that some BJP MLA’s had attacked them within the Legislator’s Bhavan and they came to me seeking help.
Q. Having failed to topple the government you have now mounted a vehement attack on the CM with documents believed to be sourced from detractors within the BJP?
A. Any government deserves to be given a grace period of one year to set right whatever mistakes or wrongs they do and accelerate the process of development. As a responsible opposition party we have given enough time to the BJP government also. But today, we have documents to prove our charges against the Yeddyurappa government. In the entire history of our country I have not seen a state as corrupt as this. We have documents to prove whatever charges we have made against the Chief Minister and they are not just superficial charges. The kind of political situation we have in the state today is detrimental to the overall welfare and development of the state.
Q. What moral ground do you have when you stand exposed with the sale deed of KIADB land to your own kith and kin coming to light when you were the Chief Minister?
A. This is not true. In 2003 Kupendra Reddy was allotted 28 acres of land by KIADB after he had obtained necessary permission from the union government under the IT Park scheme 2002. When I was the Chief Minister I have not gone out of hand to help anyone. It is the Chairman of KIADB and the government which decides whom to give the land and I have had no role in that.
Q. There are allegations that you have bought huge property in Dakshina Kannada district?
A. I have no property in Dakshina Kannada. The allegations are made without any proof. If anybody has documents to prove these bogus charges let them come out with them in the open.
Q. It is well-known that your father and you (father son duo) are famous for splitting parties, destabilizing governments and backstabbing other politicians who helped you. What do you say about this?
A. Everyone says Deve Gowda backstabbed Ramakrishna Hegde. But do you know that in 1983 Ramakrishna Hegde became Chief Minister when he was not at all in the picture, because of Deve Gowda. Though majority of MLAs were in favour of Deve Gowda, he supported Ramakrishna Hegde’s candidature and did not aspire to become the Chief Minister. Bommai government fell due to differences within the own party. J H Patel was made the Chief Minister by Deve Gowda considering his seniority when Sidharamaiah was trying to usurp the Chief Minister’s gaddi.
Yeddyurappa Government is shaky as he tried to sideline senior BJP leaders and strengthen his own position. He has sidelined former Lok Sabha member Basavaraj Patil Sedam. Senior Lingayat leader and former BJP state President B B Shivappa, who built up the party in Karnataka, has been completely marginalized by him. He did the same with senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar, whom he considers as a serious contender for the post of Chief Minister. Their government is caught in their own internal squabbling and they give a picture as if Deve Gowda and family is responsible for all their problems and misdeeds.
Q. Toppling the BJP government seems to be your single point agenda. How do you justify this stance of your party?
A. As an opposition party we have the responsibility to ensure good governance in the state. It does not mean we have to keep quiet turning a blind eye to all the wrong doings and graft charges just to allow it to continue for five years. In fact we are not trying to do anything. The BJP is caught in its own vortex of problems and it is sure to fall under the burden of its own inner-party bickering.
Q. Respecting the democratic principles should you not allow the present government to run for five years?
A. We can only hasten the process of the government falling under the weight of its own problems. We cannot be silent spectators when the government indulges in all sorts of scams and corruptions. The development process has completely come to a grinding halt. The government is now caught in a tussle with the Lokayukta also. The Chief Minister does not know to respect a constitutional body like Lokayukta. The fall of this government is imminent.
Q. Your party never had any qualms in forming the government with the help of BJP, and you call them as communal. But you still say your party as secular?
A. I have not said BJP is communal. But as Chief Minister I did not allow to implement their hidden agenda. For example when BJP state President D V Sadananda Gowda went to Dutta Peetha to protest, I got him arrested and did not compromise even risking my position. I joined hands with the BJP because Congress was bent upon destroying regional parties and our party also faced threat from them. The Congress was responsible for it because when we gave our support to the Congress they tried to obliterate us politically.
Q. According to you how long will the present government survive?
A. This government’s chances of survival are bleak and any time it may crumble.
Q. Is there a possibility of JD(S) joining hands with the Congress to form government in the event of the present government collapsing?
A. The Congress is under the false impression that it would be wiped out completely in the event of its joining hands with us. After the BJP assumed power in the state there were 16 by-elections out of which BJP had won 8. Congress could manage only 2 seats which shows that JD(S) is the only party which can give a tough fight to the BJP in the state. The Congress has some breathe left in them only because of JD(S). It is left to them to wake up and face the stark reality and decide which path to tread under the present circumstances in the overall interest of the state.