Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Dec 26: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) chief Deve Gowda on Friday December 26 said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to speak on the burning issue of conversion in the country as otherwise it would give a wrong message to the people.
Addressing reporters during his brief visit to the city enroute to Bengaluru from Bhatkal, he said, "PM Narendra Modi should speak about the conversion issue. If he allows others to speak, it would mislead the people. Whether the conversions are forced or voluntary, the PM needs to speak on it.
"Only if he treats all religions equally will the government be good. If the PM does not speak on the issue, it will give a wrong message to the people. It is a problem created by themselves, and they should come out of it," he said.
"The condition of JD(S) in the Parliament is not so good. Our number is very less and we are in the 15th position among the opposition parties," said JD(S) national president Deve Gowda.
"As we are less in number, opportunities to speak in the Lok Sabha and raise questions about various issues are very few," he added.
"Now the parties under Janata Parivar have decided to merge into a single party. If Naveen Patnaik (of Biju Janata Dal) also joins us, we will get 35 seats in the Parliament and become the third largest party. Discussions are under way and before February 2015, we will merge," he informed.
"We have already spoken to Naveen Patnaik. It is his decision whether to merge with us or not, but we are trying to convince him," he added.
"Once we merge, the leaders will decide on the party's name. I have no objection to any name they choose," Gowda said.
"It is essential that the Janata Parivar unites. If even after uniting there are problems, then people will lose trust in us and will not accept us again," he said.
He also said that he will not be contesting the next elections.
Asked to comment on a court order that asked the JD(S) to vacate its office in Bengaluru, he said, "We are trying to find a new place for our office. They have thrown me on the street, but still I have come back."