From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Haveri, Sep 29: Attacking the opposition Congress party for targeting his BJP government in the State over the PayCM 40% Commission Campaign and other issues, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai lashed out at former Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra that is entering the State on Friday and said the country and the people know who engages in ‘Bharat Jodo’ and who does ‘Bharat Thodo’.
Speaking to media persons at the Helipad in CB Kolli Polytechnic Ground helipad in Haveri on Thursday, he said all political parties need to take prior permission before displaying their flex banners and declared that the ruling BJP is not interested in pulling down and tearing the Bharat Jodo flex banners.
“BJP does not need to tear any political party’s flex banners,’’ he said in a sharp reaction to KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar’s charge that ruling BJP leaders and workers have pulled own and torn the flex banners put in different places to welcome Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in the State.
Decision on banning SDPI in coming days
Answering questions, the Chief Minister said the Union Government has not taken any decision on banning SDPI, the political arm of the banned PFI over anti-terror charges, as it is a political party registered with the Election Commission of India.
Any decision of taking action against SDPI will be taken in the coming days based on the developments, he said.
Bommai refuted Congress Opposition leader in the Council B K Hariprasad’s charge that the decision on banning PFI for five years was a ‘political gimmick and election stunt’ and countered by stating that Congress leaders have nothing new to say.
The entire country knows the background and terrorist activities, murders and other anti-national activities that have been going on in the country over several years, the Chief Minister said and accused the Congress party of double-speak and supporting the banned organisation.
“It is these people (Congress) who have been demanding that the organisation must be banned and now when it is done, they claim that it is a political gimmick and election stunt,’’ he said.
Asked about the support extended by leading writers and litterateurs for the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said these writers and litterateurs are on both sides. Some are speaking in favour and others are opposing the Yatra. Therefore, there is no point in finding special meaning, he said.
He said his government has taken steps of asking the Goa Government to allot land for construction of Kannada Bhavan in its State and that he has already written to the Goa Chief Minister.
Preparations for holding the Kannada Literary Meet in Haveri in November are in full swing and it will be a tremendous success, he said.
The Chief Minister later participated in the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Vijaya Karnataka Kannada daily and also inaugurated Karnataka Milk Federation Building and other programmes.
Bommai lavished praises on former Janata Dal Chief Minister J H Patel for creating seven new districts, including Haveri and Gadag, and said it has led to several developmental works in the new districts.
The Chief Minister said he is committed to pursuing developmental politics instead of bothering about criticism.
“Goda Hai, Maidan Hai,” (Horse is there and so is maidan) he said and urged the political parties to forget their differences after elections. “It is for the people to decide and elect,’’ he said giving details about various developmental programmes and welfare initiatives taken by his government.