From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Vijayapura, Sep 30: Mounting a scathing attack on the Congress party, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai accused the opposition party for practicing appeasement politics and said the previous government’s decision to withdraw cases filed against an organisation which had attempted murder of a Congress MLA was proof for the appeasement politics of the Congress Party.
Talking to reporters in Vijayapura on Friday, he said this attitude of the Congress Party resulted in the birth of organisations like Popular Front of India and KFD and the Central Government has crushed those organisations.
Reacting to State JD(S) President C M Ibrahim's statement on PFI ban, Bommai said Ibrahim is ‘expert only in the marriage and divorce’.
“This is a serious issue. The Government of India will take further course of action after seeing the activities for the last five years,’’ he said defending the Modi government’s decision on banning PFI and its affiliated organisations.
The Chief Minister clarified that BJP workers have not torn the flexes put up by Congress leaders in connection with the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra’ that entered Karnataka today.
The BJP MLA concerned has already given a clarification in this regard, he said.
Yatra for existence
Bommai said everyone knows why Bharat Jodo Yatra has begun. "Those who divided India into two countries are now doing this yatra. The people haven't forgotten who had created unrest in society. The irony is that the same party is doing 'Bharat Jodo' for its survival in politics. Let them do it,’’ he added.
Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said he and his predecessor B S Yediyurappa would jointly tour the State after Dasara festival and strengthen the ruling party.
He recalled his thirty years of association with late Umesh Katti and said he is visiting Vijayapura for the first time in the absence of Katti. The Late minister had dreams of the development of Vijayapura and Belagavi districts and that will be fulfilled by the government, he promised.
Cong infighting for presidential poll because election is held for first time: CM
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday termed the intense fight within the Congress party over its presidential polls ‘may be because election for the party president’s post is happening for the first time’.
Speaking to media persons in Hubballi on Friday, the Chief Minister, however, refused to speak further on the Congress presidential polls as ‘it is an internal matter’ of a political party.
“BJP is a disciplined party and follows democratic norms,’’ he said making it clear that other parties must decide what they want.
The Chief Minister took strong exception to Congress Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah’s demand that RSS must be banned and termed the former Chief Minister’s comment as ‘’most unfortunate.’’
Bommai said the Congress has no basis to ask why Popular Front of India (PFI) has been banned because it was the same party that had withdrawn the cases booked against PFI.
To cover up their mistakes, the Congress leaders are demanding a ban on RSS but they do not say why it should be banned.
“RSS has built several institutions for poor, downtrodden and destitute people, and rendered help during natural disasters. It is an organisation which is trying to create awareness on patriotism. I feel Siddaramaiah should not have stooped to this level,’’ he said.
The Chief Minister inaugurated several projects and developmental works in Vijayapura district and earlier visited Almatti dam in Bagalkot district to offer Bagina.