Date:16/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/16/stories/2006031613810400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress ready for polls: Dharam Singh

Staff Reporter

`Elections will be held soon and I am confident that the party will get a majority'

Other statements
A party with communal tendencies is running the coalition
The new government will not last long

It has copied schemes for the disabled formulated by the previous government

THEIR PLACE IN THE SUN? Visually impaired children at a programme to dedicate bus shelters to the elderly and the disabled, in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh said here on Wednesday that the Congress is ready for elections.

Addressing a programme organised by R.V. Venkatesh, MLC, to inaugurate two bus shelters provided by him through the Karnataka Legislature Local Area Development Scheme, Mr. Singh said: "I am confident that the Congress will get a majority."

He said one of the coalition partners is a party with communal tendencies.

It is an unholy alliance and will not last for long. There may be elections soon and the Congress is ready for them whenever they are held, he said.

"A party which has no principles and goals and which is spreading communalism in the country is in power in the State," Mr. Singh alleged. They will come to you to beg for your votes. The underprivileged, especially minority communities, should be warned and should not allow them to come to power," Mr. Singh said. He said the Government of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (S) has copied the schemes the previous government formulated for the benefit of the poor and the physically and mentally challenged. He added that the previous government supported the disabled and the underprivileged.

Bangalore Mayor Mumtaz Begum said physically and mentally challenged persons do not need sympathy but encouragement.

The visually impaired, the hearing impaired and other disabled persons are talented in many ways. "They only need a little support and guidance to realise their dreams and come up in life," she said.

Yoga demonstration

A yoga and karate demonstration was given by visually impaired students. Disabled sportspersons and persons dedicated to the service of the disabled were felicitated.

H.K. Patil, former Minister and MLC; Dinesh Gundu Rao, MLA, and Mr. Venkatesh were present.