Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy has criticised the BJP and Congress of playing politics over “dead bodies.”
Reacting to the protest rallies taken out by the BJP following the death of some youth in Dakshina Kannada district, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the BJP and the Congress were two faces of the same coin. He was speaking to presspersons in Belagavi on Friday. While the BJP is playing “communal politics,” the Congress government is repeatedly displaying its “ineffective policing.”
“We have no relationship with the Congress or BJP. Neither BJP nor Congress is close to us,’’ he said. No political importance should be attached to Railway Minister Piyush Goel meeting JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda. Mr. Goel came over only to learn about railway projects in the State.
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He said the JD(S) was aiming to come to power on its own and not for helping anyone else to form the government. “Our aim is winning 113 seats. We are not obliged to anyone or any party. JD(S) will field candidates from all 224 seats. We hope to win at least 45 seats in northern Karnataka.” He rubbished rumours of former Minister and Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi joining the party. “We met at a programme in Raichur. But it was not a political meeting.”
Mr. Kumaraswamy criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for making fun of JD(S) as a party of “a father and his sons.” “Why is he talking about our party now? Did he not know it when he was in the party? The JD(S) made Mr. Siddaramaiah Deputy Chief Minister. Was it not a party of a father and his sons then?,’’ he asked.
Former Minister H. Vishwanath, and party leaders Faizulla Madiwale, Shankar Madalagi and others were present.
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