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New Delhi: Parliament Okays Dissolution of Karnataka Assembly

  •   Tue, Nov 27 2007 07:21:19 AM

New Delhi: Parliament Okays Dissolution of Karnataka Assembly

Times News Network

New Delhi, Nov 27 (mb): Most politicians would have thought twice about attending Parliament on a day when they knew they would be roundly reviled. But former PM H D Deve Gowda is not like most politicians. In fact, it could be well argued that he is unique when it comes to having a thick skin.

On Monday, when Parliament approved imposition of President's rule in Karnataka and the government declared its intention to dissolve the assembly to facilitate early elections, Gowda presented an incongruous sight in the Lok Sabha. To begin with, it was difficult to spot him as he sat at the back of the House, his head and face partially obscured by a dark muffler, a pair of spectacles resting on his forehead.

Gowda sat still, eyes closed, as Mohan Singh (SP) attacked him for bringing politics to a new low. He drew on his previous association with Gowda and recalled having witnessed the former PM visiting a temple in UP, prostrating repeatedly. "But his actions show that despite being a believer, Gowda has no fear of God."

Gowda was pilloried by both sides of the "communal-secular" divide. He was accused of devaluing politics by his infamous flip-flops. He was told that no one could be expected to repose any trust in him. Tejaswini Gowda (Congress) said people had lost count of how many times he had changed his statements.

Gowda could possibly draw some consolation from the BJP also receiving its share of ridicule. Once again, Mohan Singh made the point by saying: "I was surprised to hear BJP president Rajnath Singh lamenting that he had been betrayed. It just goes to show how people of modest capacities come to occupy high posts. If you deal with an untrustworthy person, what else can you expect?"

Undaunted, Gowda put on a typically "emotional" performance. He said his son H D Kumaraswamy had struck a deal with the BJP when he was away from Bangalore. He tried to flaunt his "secular" card by claiming he had shut Karnataka's gates for the BJP.

Ananth Kumar (BJP) demanded early elections to the Karnataka assembly. But he had no reply to the telling criticism by speakers like Tejaswini who said the BJP had been exposed as a power-hungry outfit.
Ananth Kumar referred to a TOI cartoon. It depicted a Rs 1,000 note with a picture of Gowda instead of Mahatma Gandhi's.

It mentioned 'The Central Bank of JD(S)' instead of RBI and said: "I do not promise to pay Rs 1,000 to the bearer" instead of "I promise to pay Rs 1,000 to the bearer."

The Lok Sabha approved the presidential proclamation in the afternoon, closely followed by the Rajya Sabha, with home minister Shivraj Patil promising the assembly would be dissolved at the earliest.

I&B minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters: "It is a fait accompli. When President's rule was imposed, the same day dissolution was approved. By tomorrow morning, you will get the news that the House is dissolved."

In the Rajya Sabha, leading the BJP's charge, M Venkaiah Naidu accused the Congress of indulging in manipulation to gain a backdoor entry to power.

Congress member Abhishek Singhvi said the BJP and JD(S) had turned on their head the concept of "collective responsibility". He referred to BJP minister B Sriramulu levelling a murder charge against then chief minister Kumaraswamy. 

We closed the gates to BJP in south: Gowda

The Hindu

New Delhi: Taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party and others who said his party was no longer secular, the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Monday told the Lok Sabha that the Janata Dal (Secular) closed the gates to south India for the saffron party.

He was participating in a discussion on the resolution for imposition of President’s Rule in Karnataka.

As for who betrayed whom, Gowda said, “People will decide.” Countering the accusation that he was power-hungry, he said he had given up ministerial office thrice.

Earlier, Ananth Kumar (BJP) said, “The only language Gowda knows is the language of betrayal.”

Pointing out the people were tired of frequent polls, Tejashwini Seeramesh (Congress) said the JD(S) used the word secularism to suit its convenience.

Varkala Radhakrishnan (CPI-M) favoured scrapping of Article 356 and said if it had to be retained, there should be a provision for Parliament’s approval before any Assembly is dissolved.

While the JD(S) was at the receiving end most of the time, the Congress too came in for criticism from BJP members, particularly Prahlad Joshi, who accused it of trying to stay in government on the JD(S) crutches though it was rejected by the electorate in 2004.

Why delay, asks Naidu

Initiating the discussion in the Rajya Sabha, M Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) accused the Congress of trying to split the JD(S) and return to power through the back door. He questioned the delay in asking the BJP-led coalition to form a government. “Without loss of further time, approach the Election Commission to ensure that elections are held at the earliest, if you have the confidence to face the people.”

Reiterating his party’s position against disturbing any popular government which enjoyed a majority in the legislature, D. Raja (CPI) said President’s Rule was inevitable in Karnataka. “If the House is not dissolved, it would encourage opportunism and horse-trading.”

Politics in Karnataka - Na Ghar Ka, Na Ghat Ka !
  

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