Mangalore: Cong-BJP conflict over Tipu University for vote bank - Kumaraswamy

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Feb 2: The conflict over the proposed Tipu Sultan University the Congress and the BJP is mainly for vote bank, said former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy during his visit to the city.

He addressed the gathering during JD(S) women’s wing office-bearers meeting and workshop held at JD(S) office in Falnir on Saturday February 2.

In his address, Kumaraswamy lauded the women’s wing for putting up such a beautiful programme and said, "Ruling parties of the state and the nation have failed to work in the interest of the people, especially towards uplifting of the downtrodden. We should ask ourselves whether these two parties have worked sincerely all these years," he said.

"Take for example Dakshina Kannada district, there are so many backward class people who earn their living doing menial jobs. Every day lacs of people in the country face various problems, has Congress done anything to help them? The party which was in deep sleep for the past 4-and-a-half years has now woken up during elections and is organizing Padayatra to attract votes," he alleged.

"Congress is solely responsible for all major issues like Baba Budanagiri and Tipu University. As far as Tipu University is concerned, no Muslim has asked them to set up a university, it is mainly their ploy to draw votes and now BJP is going against this. We should not give importance to the name of the university, instead focus should be on imparting quality education there," he said.

Commenting on BJP, he said, "The country has not seen any party worse than BJP. They are known for fake promises and for looting people in the name of development."

"If our party wins the election, I will increase widow and old age pensions from Rs 400 to Rs 1200 and will provide Rs 5000 per month to pregnant women to eradicate malnutrition. Unemployment problem among youth will also be solved," he said.

The programme was followed by a press meet at the residence of JD(S) general secretary Vasanth Poojary, at Padil.

Addressing the media persons, Kumaraswamy said, "Congress and BJP are facing various internal conflicts. Congress having failed to perform its duty for the last 4-and-a-half years, is now staging drama through Padayatra. Setting up of Tipu University was a decision taken by the Congress leaders to play divisive politics between Hindus and Muslims," he alleged, adding that Congress was mainly responsible for BJP to come to power in the state.

"BJP has completely lost it image and power because of its misrule, and has only itself to blame for carrying out immoral activities. This is supported indirectly by Congress party by its silence," he added.

"In order to attain maximum number of votes in the forthcoming elections, I have personally visited 170 places in the state. I do not play dirty politics like Congress and BJP," he said.

Madhu Bangarappa, JD(S) youth president, A Sadanand Shetty, JD(S) contestant, Jayalaxmi Heggde, district president of women’s wing, Jyothi Reddy, MB Sadhashiv, district president, Amaranath Shetty, former MLA, Nagaraj Shetty, JD(S) state vice president, MG Heggde, MD Aslam, Ratnakar Suvarna, Sushil Noronha, Rajashree S Heggde, Kushala Shetty, Chittaranjan rai, Pramod Pinto, Elias Sanctis, Gopalkrishna Attavar, Srinath Rai among others were present.

Bike Rally

To mark Kumaraswamy’s visit to the city, the JD(S) youth wing of Dakshina Kannada organized a bike rally in the morning from JD(S) office at Falnir. The rally passed through State Bank, PVS, Lalbagh and reached Balmatta where it culminated in the presence of H D Kumaraswamy.

Chaos

Media created a stir at Vasanth Poojary’s residence as they had to wait for an hour for Kumaraswamy’s press meet. The delay, common in JD(S) meets and programmes, angered media persons.