From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 26: BJP National President Amit Shah, who is on his latest visit to Karnataka, while embarking on a programme to visit the major religious Mutts of the politically powerful Lingayat community, accused Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for suddenly recognising the separate religion and minority status to the community only to deny the party’s State President B S Yeddyurappa from becoming the Chief Minister.
"This Siddaramaiah government has brought this proposal, not because it has love for Lingayats but to prevent Yeddyurappa from becoming Chief Minister," Shah said addressing a convention of Coconut Growers here.
Without directly clarifying whether he and the ruling BJP at the Centre would approve or reject the proposal submitted by Siddaramaiah’s Congress government, he merely mentioned that the UPA regime led by Dr Manmohan Singh had rejected the proposal in 2013.
"I want to tell the Karnataka people that if BJP wins by majority, we will make Yeddyurappa the Chief Minister," he declared.
The BJP National President said Siddaramaiah government had suddenly propped up the issue with a view to create confusion among the people and divide the Lingayat community on religious lines as Yeddyurappa, being a Lingayat, enjoys mass following among the community
Shah said the people of the state will not be fooled by Siddaramaiah's divide-and-rule politics and will teach a befitting lesson.
Lashing out at AICC President Rahul Gandhi, the BJP President said Rahul Gandhi should first point fingers at Siddaramaiah for dividing people before accusing BJP for the same.
Comparing Siddaramiah's divide-and-rule politics to the British policy when they ruled India, he said such divide and rule tactics will not work.
"The Congress ship is sinking and to save it, the party is making its last efforts," he said and asked: "What it is doing? It is making efforts to divide people."
The Congress Chief Minister is playing a la divide-and-rule politics of Britishers, he said.
Shah also criticized Siddaramiah government for not bringing the proposal earlier.
"The Siddaramaiah government has proposed to accord religion and minority status to Lingayats now. But why did it not do it earlier? Because earlier, there was no need for gaining votes," he said.
He also launched a scathing attack on Siddaramaiah government for failing to prevent farmers' suicide in the State.
"In five years of Siddaramaiah's rule as many as 3,781 farmers have committed suicides. I want to ask the government, who is responsible for these suicides?" he asked.
Shah said the suicides of farmers in Congress-ruled states are always in the increase, whereas it dwindles in BJP-ruled states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
"In BJP-ruled states farmers' suicides are next to nothing," he claimed and said in Congress ruled States, the suicide of farmers increases and decreases in BJP-ruled states.
Shah said: "If you vote Yeddyurappa to become Chief Minister, I assure you farmers' suicides will come to a halt."