Gowda Regrets Not Saying 'Yes' when Yeddy Wanted to Join JD(S)
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Dec 9: The series of land scams against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and the serious charges of nepotism, favouritism and other irregularities as also the BJP government’s efforts to implicate him and his family in alleged scandals has incensed JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda to such an extent that he went to the extent of confessing that he made a mistake in not saying ''yes" when Yeddyurappa sent emissaries to join JD(S).
''Yes, you are right and what you say is true. I sincerely regret in agreeing to Yeddyurappa’s request to join JD(S)," Gowda said responding to a question on whether he regrets not accepting the latter’s request to join his party within a year after the 2004 assembly polls.
''Though what you say is true and there would not have been any problems, I personally felt he (Yeddyurappa) would not benefit much by joining JD(S)," the former prime minister said and made it clear that he would not like to come in the way of any person’s political future for the sake of short term gains.
''How a person grows and climbs up in politics is not in my hands or that of any party. I am only an instrument and I sent the emissary (of Yeddyurappa) back saying he cannot expect any big benefits by joining another party," he said.
However, the JD(S) national president was highly critical of the conduct and record of Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister and described the latter as the ''most corrupt and worst type of CM, who turned out to be a big disgrace for the people and all previous chief ministers."
Gowda said he was least perturbed or worried over Yeddyurappa’s threats to expose him and his family members. ''It is a matter of record that I had appeared before the Lok Ayukta when allegations were leveled against me.
From the single bench to division bench of High Court and even the Supreme Court, state COD as well as Lok Ayukta have inquired into all land holdings of my entire family spanning over several decades. Yeddyurappa is also free to conduct any inquiry and find out what others could not because there is nothing illegal or irregular," he contended.
To a specific question on Yeddyurappa’s claim that he would personally ask him (Gowda) regarding his alleged attempts to topple the BJP government by conspiring with certain MPs if he ever came face to face with him, the JD(S) supremo said that the only occasion he came face to face with Yeddyurappa was during the recent funeral of veteran leader M Rajashekara Murthy. ''He (Yeddyurappa) in fact, sat next to me. I did not speak to him because it was not the occasion. Neither did he speak to me probably for the same reason," he said.
Gowda, however, disclosed that he had asked BJP opposition leader Sushma Swaraj to set right the health of the state government. He explained that Sushma Swaraj, who spoke to him in Kannada in the lobby of parliament after one of the recent adjournment of Lok Sabha over the opposition’s demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe and inquired about his health. ''I told her forget about my health. Do something to set right the health of Karnataka government (when the state was gripped by political uncertainty over the series of exposures against the chief minister in the land scams)."
''She had replied to me in Kannada, we are looking into it. I don’t know what happened. But Yeddyurappa continues," he said pointing out that former state BJP president and Udupi MP D V Sadananda Gowda was accompanying Sushma Swaraj while AIADMK and TDP MPs sat next to him.
Asked for his reaction to the ongoing controversy over the continued disruption of parliament seeking a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam against former DMK minister A Raja, the JD(S) supremo mentioned that he and his party were also one with the 12 secular parties in pressing for the demand. ''I supported the demand because Public Accounts Committee of parliament has certain limitations. It can inquire only into the specific points raised by CAG in the 2G Spectrum issue while the JPC has wider powers and can go into the entire gamut of issues and question anybody or summon all official documents," he said.
However, he said he was totally opposed to BJP’s stand of continuing the confrontation against the government and stall the proceedings in parliament during the next session of parliament also. ''Enough is enough. We cannot go on stalling proceedings in parliament. Several issues affecting the people and farmers need to be discussed in parliament. I have made my stand very clear to leaders of all other parties as well. We cannot continue to hold the parliament to ransom merely because the government does not agree with the demands of the opposition," he said.
The JD(S) supremo said the BJP leaders, who turned a blind eye and exhibited their inability or ineffectiveness to take action against Yeddyurappa when far more serious allegations with documentary evidence were published and scam after scam surfaced, cannot continue to have double-standards on the issue of corruption at the national level and in the state ruled by it.
Gowda said the JD(S) will contest all the zilla and taluk panchayat seats on its own and would not have any understanding with any parties. He said he did not subscribe to the stand that the division of secular votes would benefit BJP if the non-BJP parties fought the local body elections separately. ''We have our own strengths and want to grow in the state. Why should we lose our identity?," he asked.