Date:01/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/01/stories/2006120110070400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Let the people decide'

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: The Janata Dal (Secular) has decided not to complain to any authority against what it claims is the harassment it has faced in the run-up to the Chamundeshwari byelection. It prefers to place the matter in the people's court for a decision.

JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda told presspersons here on Thursday that the party was being "hounded" not merely by rival political parties and leaders but also by the Election Commission. Strangely, even the Governor had written two letters to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy although the conduct of elections was the business of the Election Commission, he said.

On Wednesday, there was a scuffle between Minister for Forests C. Chennigappa and some party activists on one side and some journalists on the other. "I sent an unconditional apology to the journalists. But, party MLC and spokesman Y.S.V. Datta was heckled and manhandled by some journalists as he delivered my letter. Some newspapers have carried a photograph of this. May I ask if any journalist has apologised to the legislator concerned," the former Prime Minister asked.