Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress, BJP leaders trade charges

Special Correspondent

We'll defeat Congress in next polls: Yediyurappa

BANGALORE: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Wednesday exuded confidence in the Legislative Assembly that the Janata Dal (S)-BJP alliance would defeat the Congress in the next elections.

Reacting to the charges made by Leader of the Opposition N. Dharam Singh and former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the BJP's communal plank had not worked in the zilla and taluk panchayat elections last year, Mr. Yediyurappa said the ruling parties would teach a lesson to the Congress in the next elections to the Assembly.

The JD (S)-BJP combine would not allow the Congress to regain power in the State, he said.

Mr. Yediyurappa said people from all communities and castes had appreciated the first budget of the coalition Government.

Unlike budgets presented by the previous Congress governments, the State budget for 2006-07 had set aside funds for welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes and Muslims.

The Congress governments had only coined pro-poor slogans and not worked for their welfare, he charged.

There were heated exchanges between Mr. Siddaramaiah and Water Resources Minister K.S. Eshwarappa when the latter said the former Deputy Chief Minister had been spreading caste ill-feeling among the people.

Mr. Siddaramiah shot back saying that BJP members were responsible for the spread of communal incidents in the State. The BJP had been advocating anti-secular and anti-social principles.

The demolition of Babri Masjid led to the rise of BJP in the country, he said.

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