Mangalore: Deve Gowda seeks bishop's blessings; says Cong, BJP destroyed JD(S)

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Sep 18: Former Prime Minister and national president of JD(S) party Deve Gowda on Wednesday September 18 visited the Bishop's House and sought blessings from bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza.

On the occasion, Deve Gowda said that he was embarking on state-wide tour to strengthen the JD(S) party and hence had sought the bishop's blessings for the success of his mission.

Deve Gowda also interacted with the bishop and discussed the church attacks that had taken place in Mangalore.

Among those present were vical general of Mangalore diocese Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, PRO Fr William Menezes, JD(S) leaders M B Sadashiv, Sushil Noronha, Ratnakar Suvarna, D Dhanraj and others.

Later, addressing a press meet, Deve Gowda said that six teams have been formed for the state tour, and once in 15 days, a review meeting will be held to assess the progress of the party in the state.

"I agree that our party is weak in the coastal part of the state, but we are doing our best to strengthen it here. My aim is to strengthen the party in the state. In the first phase, we will cover Udupi, Mangalore, Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Hassan. In the second phase, we will cover Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gadag and Hubli. In the third phase, we will tour Bidar, Gulbarga, Chitradurga, Koppal and Bellary. This way we will cover all the districts in the state." he informed.

When a journalist raised a question about the governor's involvement in politics, he said, "I respect the governor and the system of democracy. Governor's interference in politics happened at the time of Indira Gandhi itself. It is the Congress that did it, and now Congress is trying to control the judiciary too."

Asked to comment on BJP's PM nominee Narendra Modi, he said every person should think of the nation first and not of any individual.

About Mohan Padil and Dharmendra Kumar who had earlier been part of JD(S), he admitted that it was mistake to induct them in the party but that 'the mistake was committed not by me but by the party leaders."

He added, "We have committed two mistakes - the first was supporting the Congress, and second, the BJP. Both the parties have tried to destroy JD(S)."

He informed by end of October, the JD(S) will finalize its candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

State JD(S) president A Krishnappa, who was in Congress for 30 years before shifting loyalty to JD(S), expressed confidence that this time, the JD(S) will win 15-16 Lok Sabha seats.

Launching a frontal attack on the UPA government, he said, "UPA government has failed at the national level. Law and order has deteriorated. But it has posed a challenge for us. The UPA has failed to fulfil the dream of the nation. There are clear signs that the UPA is going to suffer a defeat. It has been leading an empire of corruption."

Making a reference to the Prime Minister, he said, "Silence is not a good thing every time. The government says coal scam files are missing. Civilized people cannot accept such statements.

"The nation is facing serious threat from China which entered 30 km inside the border and built camos, power station and dams. Pakistan has been killing our innocent soldiers. Are we so weak to allow this?

He also slammed the government over inflation and the falling value of rupee against dollar and said that the 'authoritarian' government should be made to go.

On his party's focus in Karnataka, he said, "JD(S) party is trying to build a model Karnataka, where everyone can live in harmony and peace."

When a journalist asked Krishanappa about the party's decision to give preference to a newcomer for the post of state president, Deve Gowda took the mike from him and replied, "It is a unanimous decision by the party MLAs and leaders. It is also an effort to bring backward class to the forefront. We give priority to everyone. The Congress which is a national party speaks of secularism, but it has never given importance to Muslims, not even in terms of reservation. When Krishnappa entered JD(S), he had he wanted to served the party as a worker, but it was our decision to elevate him and give him an opportunity to do better work."