Date:27/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/27/stories/2005092719040100.htm

Front Page

Deve Gowda comes in for attack at AHINDA meet

Staff Correspondent

Former Prime Minister accused of promoting dynastic rule

DEFIANT STANCE: The former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressing AHINDA convention in Hassan on Monday.

HASSAN: Janata Dal (Secular) President and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda became the favourite whipping boy at the AHINDA convention here on Monday with speaker after speaker accusing him of promoting dynastic rule and harming the interests of backward classes, minorities and Dalits.

Despite the claim that the convention would also focus on the problems affecting the farmers and the working class, none of the leaders bothered to refer to them as they restricted themselves to attacking the former Prime Minister.

Leaders of AHINDA such as R.L. Jalappa, C.M. Ibrahim, H.C. Mahadevappa, Satish Jarkiholi, G. Puttaswamy Gowda, P. Kodandaramaiah, B.R. Patil, Vaijnath Patil, and Nagamani Nage Gowda accused Mr. Deve Gowda of being a backstabber.

`Divide and rule'

Addressing the gathering at the district stadium, the former Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, alleged that Mr. Deve Gowda had tried his best to sabotage the convention. But the people who have faith in the movement foiled it.

He accused Mr. Deve Gowda of adopting a divide and rule policy. He made it clear that he will not exploit the strength of the AHINDA movement to meet his political ends.

His aim is only the uplift of the oppressed sections.

Mr. Siddaramaiah disclosed that he and other leaders of the movement will tour the State in the first week of October to create awareness among these section about their rights.

Missed chance

Accusing Mr. Deve Gowda of misguiding the people on the aims of the AHINDA movement, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that people cannot be fooled all the time. They have understood his real intentions. Blaming Mr. Deve Gowda for spoiling his chance of becoming Chief Minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah made it clear that he never aspired for the post, but it was Mr. Deve Gowda who had publicised it.

Though Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar told Mr. Deve Gowda to demand the post for him during the formation of the coalition Government, the Janata Dal (S) supremo refused because his "kitchen cabinet" was not in favour of it, he charged.

Accusing Mr. Deve Gowda of uttering lies, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he is claiming credit for the reservation order passed by the former Chief Minister, M. Veerappa Moily.

"Mr. Deve Gowda did not show any concern for the backward classes when he held the top position in the country. Now, he is posing himself as a champion of these very classes and is demanding `internal reservation' just to divide the movement," he said.

Suspension illegal

Terming his suspension and that of Mr. Ibrahim from the primary membership of the Janata Dal (S) as illegal, Mr. Siddaramaiah said: "Mr. Deve Gowda can remove me from the party, but he cannot erase me from the memory of the people." He also asked the former Prime Minister to stop his efforts to end his political career as people have stopped believing him.