Daijiworld Media Network - Bagalkot (MS)
Bagalkot, Jan 31: Former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday January 31 took potshots at the ruling BJP government and said that the 'double engine' government of BJP, as its national president Amit Shah had termed it, had become 'derailed' with its 'bogies' detached.
Kumaraswamy was speaking after inaugurating the JD(S) party organizing committee conference that took place at Kalidasa Maidan of Navanagara.
"BJP says that theirs is a double engine government. Amit Shah, who recently came to Belagavi said that Modi is one engine and Yediyurappa is the other. But why no developmental work is being done with two engines? Bogies attached to engines have got detached and gone somewhere. Only engines are there, without bogies. The chain link of all bogies has got cut off with the engines and derailed. With only engines nothing can be done," he said.
Recalling the dilemma he faced as chief minister during the previous coalition government, Kumaraswamy said, "I was like an FDA clerk in the coalition government. I did not have independence. When I became chief minister I could not take any independent decision. On the one hand, pressure was there from Siddaramaiah. Pressure was exerted on me to continue the schemes that were presented in the last budget of the Siddaramaiah government. There was pressure to continue the old schemes especially with regard to irrigation. On the other hand, BJP said that I came to power saying that with the promise to waive the loans of farmers but that I was deceiving them by not waiving off the loans. I was like a clerk in the coalition government."
On the controversial CD issue allegedly involving BJP leaders, he said, "I am not a partner in the CD issue which Yatnal has mentioned. The CD which Yatnal is mentioning might be of some benefit to some BJP members. I do not know any story about that CD. In the system of our country it is futile to speak about corruption. You have formed a government through backdoor politics. So instead of statements like this, give attention to the issues faced by the public."
Reacting to the issue of farmers' protest around the country, Kumaraswamy said, "The union government should shed its stubborn attitude and call the farmers for talks and take them into confidence. Let a united decision be made. The mayhem that occurred on Republic Day has various versions. It is a black dot in the history of India. Such a scenario should have been avoided. What is the reason for the ruckus? BJP government has to find out. They have their own intelligence department. PM Modi experesses his feelings through Mann Ki Baat. But he never mentions about the Delhi looting. No discussion is being held in this regard. No one should play with the life of farmers."
"Earlier I had made a scheme called Compete with China in cluster nine. Now PM Modi calls it as Atmanirbhar. I was not invited for Koppal toy manufacturing programme. I am the one who gave order incentive for that. Modi has copied my scheme as Atmanirbhar," accused Kumaraswamy.
Responding to the issue of disgruntled BJP MLAs contacting JD (S), Kumaraswamy said, "As per my experience of 12 years, I will not get into the work of entering into a house that is already on fire. If they have done some mistake we cannot help. I have friends in both BJP and Congress. That too in BJP I have many friends. But not the ones who want to join JD (S). They are one who are cordial with me. But I will not misuse that cordial relation."
Speaking about the issue of Siddaramaiah's statement that he has brough Rs 200 crore project for Badami constituency, Kumaraswamy said, "You see the respective files. I will not lie. In fact, I have given more grant to Badami indiectly. If work is in progress in Badami today, they are not the ones given by BJP government. They were sanctioned by me when I was chief minister for 14 months. I had visited the villages of Badami on behalf of our candidate Hanumanthappa. I have given grant because of the demands of the people."