From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Jan 18: JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy termed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a public debate on the failure of the Centre to release funds for Karnataka for drought relief works is ‘height of arrogance’.

The JDS leader and former chief minister, who had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President J P Nadda in connection with the party’s alliance with BJP for the Lok Sabha polls, told media persons in Delhi on Thursday that there is a ‘trust deficit’ between the Congress government in the State and the Modi government at the Centre.

Kumaraswamy said the Siddaramaiah regime has a tendency of blaming the Prime Minister and Centre for everything. The Congress government has been constantly attacking Modi and Centre to divert public attention over its administrative failure, problems in implementation of guarantees and the problems of farmers due to drought conditions, he said.

The JDS leader advised the Congress party, which was his former ally in the State, to first concentrate on rectifying the lapses and visit Delhi to discuss with the Centre and ministers concerned and try to find out how to solve the problems of the people instead of always blaming the Centre, he said.
Kumaraswamy said: “A Chief Minister challenging the country’s Prime Minister for a public debate is the height of arrogance. This is not good behaviour. The Chief Minister should first learn minimum courtesy and be respectful of the Prime Minister.’’

Asking the Congress leaders to clarify their contribution after ruling the State for 40 years in the field of irrigation.

Kumaraswamy attacked the Congress government for repeatedly criticizing the Centre and talking ill of the Prime Minister in the public on streets is not good behaviour. “Such attitude will never help. In a federal democracy, it is necessary for the States to work with the Centre instead of public criticism,’’ he said.

The JDS leader said the Chief Minister must learn from other States, especially Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has been in power for five consecutive terms. Odisha has greater extent of poverty than Karnataka. But the Odisha government has never fought against with the Congress or BJP when they were in power at the Centre. The Odisha government is getting Central funds and projects from the Centre without any hassles.

“I have been Chief Minister of Karnataka twice. When I was in power with BJP, Congress was in power at the Centre and when I ruled the State with Congress, BJP was in power. But I had no problems and was able to meet the Prime Minister without any hassles and State’s issues were resolved,’’ he claimed.

Under Pressure to Contest in LS Polls

The JDS leader claimed that he is under intense pressure from the party workers and his supporters to contest from Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur, Mandya and Bengaluru Rural parliamentary constituencies.

“A decision on whether I should contest for Lok Sabha polls will be decided by leaders of both JDS and BJP,’’ he said.

Kumaraswamy said he will be visiting Ayodhya to participate in the consecration of Ram idol as the entire country is in a celebratory mood over the event. “I am going and my father H D Deve Gowda is also attending. All of us have been invited,’’ he said.

JDS Yuva Morcha leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who had lost in the Mandya Lok Sabha polls and also in the Ramanagara assembly polls, said: “I do not want to sit at home just because I was defeated. It is not in my nature. I was defeated at a young age due to machinations by some persons. I will work for strengthening and building the party,’’ he declared.

No intention of becoming Union Minister

Kumaraswamy dismissed the rumours of his joining the Modi cabinet ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and claimed that he is unable to understand how the rumours started.

“I have no intention nor desire of becoming a Central minister. Lok Sabha elections are hardly two months away and the model code of conduct will come in operation probably in March. What can I do if I become a Central minister? I don’t know how the rumours started,’’ he said.

The JDS leader claimed that his only goal is to ensure that BJP-JDS combine wins all the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the State and the party is working for that goal.

He also mentioned that Modi, Shah and Nadda have been treating the JDS very cordially despite being a very small party. The seat sharing talks will be finalized after the Ayodhya ceremony on January 22, he added.