Shivakumar 'hijacks' Cong. to Channapatna

By S.K. Ramoo

BANGALORE, NOV. 17. It is now an ``open secret'' that the Congress-sponsored farmers' rally to be held at Channapatna on Monday is mainly aimed at salvaging the reputation of the Cooperation Minister, Mr. D.K. Shivakumar.

The former Prime Minister, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, and his party, the Janata Dal (Secular), had held Mr. Shivakumar wholly responsible for the death of two farmers in police firing at Vitlenahalli. Mr. Gowda, who made an issue of the incident, demanded the resignation of the minister. He also undertook a padayatra from that village to Bangalore, alleging that the S.M. Krishna government was anti-farmer as the police had opened fire on a group of farmers without any provocation. The padayatra attracted a sizable number of people who expressed their solidarity with Mr. Gowda and his party. It was also the focus of media attention.

The JD(S) leaders, particularly the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Mr. K.H. Srinivasa, challenged Mr. Shivakumar to visit the village if he had the ``guts'' to do so. The minister promptly accepted the challenge. He visited the village, accompanied by a large posse of armed police personnel, and addressed a thinly-attended meeting.

Interestingly the State Congress leadership postponed the farmers' rally at Channapatna, earlier fixed for November 12, following the direction of the party high command. Some State Congress leaders, including a minister, had warned the AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, Ms. Ambika Soni, that the situation in the village was tense, and the rally might cause a grave law and order problem.

Several Congress leaders privately articulated their displeasure over the alleged ``pressure and even blackmail'' tactics brought to bear by the minister on Mr. Krishna in seeking the heavy police security for him during his visit to the village. He reportedly insisted that he would visit the village, come what may.

Monday's rally is being organised at the behest of the minister who, in a way, ``pressured'' the State party leadership to take the step. The KPCC President, Mr. Allum Veerabhadrappa, who resented the pressure tactics adopted by the minister, had no option but to fall in line as the latter has emerged as a confidant of the Chief Minister. The party leadership has issued a whip directing all senior leaders and ministers to attend the rally.

A few senior party leaders have been complaining in private that the minister has ``hijacked'' the party in order to fulfil his personal agenda. According to them, he has unnecessarily made the Channapatna rally an issue of prestige. This obvious ``show of muscle'' is resented by several ministers. A party source claimed that Mr. Shivakumar reportedly threatened that he would cause embarrassment to the Chief Minister's leadership by submitting his resignation if the party failed to back him.

Although some JD(S) leaders have publicly stated that their party workers would not disturb the planned rally, ugly incidents aimed at marring the meeting cannot be ruled out, notwithstanding the heavy police security that will be provided at the venue. Many party leaders feel that this ``pompous show of strength'' is unwarranted following the party's recent triumph in the elections to the prestigious Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council and other local bodies. Mr. Krishna and other leaders of the party have taken the line that the people's mandate in the recent polls served as a fitting reply to Mr. Gowda, who had publicly vowed to dislodge the Krishna government, and also to other Opposition leaders. The calculated ruckus created by some of the Opposition leaders on the eve of elections did not lead to any detrimental fallout for the Congress as the poll outcome showed.

Since the unwilling State unit of the Congress party is being ``forced'' to hold the rally, it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that it puts on a massive show. It will provide a platform for party leaders to crow over the party's recent poll triumph. The party could have avoided this game of political brinkmanship in its own interest.

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