'I'm no hit & run leader, will expose Cong govt'

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The first session of the new Legislature after the May 10 Assembly polls will start on Monday. This will be the budget session and the CM will present the budget for the rest of the year on July 7. While the biggest Opposition Party, the BJP is not yet ready to take on the Congress government due to its internal squabbles, the Janata Dal (Secular) led by former CM H.D.

Kumaraswamy is all geared for the task of cornering CM Siddaramaiah for the reported shortcomings in implementing the five guarantee schemes. Shyam Sundar Vattam of News Trail spoke to Kumaraswamy on the strategy the party will adopt on the floor of the Assembly.

News Trail: What strategy will your party adopt to attack the Congress government?

HD Kumaraswamy: We had a day-long meeting with our party MLAs and discussed what needs to be done to put the government in fix. The Siddaramaiah gove r n m e n t has totally messed up on the implementation of the five guarantee schemes.

They promised many things to the people before the Assembly polls but changed their tone and imposed conditions. Many schemes are non-starters due to the money involved. We will urge the government to fulfill promises made to people without putting the blame on others.

NT: Congress leaders call you a 'hit & run ' politician because you do not take any issue to its logical end?

HDK: I disagree with those comments. I have the credit of exposing the misdeeds of the Congress government in the past. Have Congress leaders done it in the last four years? The Congress Party and its leaders raised a hue and cry claiming rampant corruption in the previous BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai, 40 percent commission in government departments, irregularities in PSI selection, Bitcoin scam and other issues.

But did they release any supportive documents. I will expose the government issue by issue. Just because we have won only 19 seats does not mean they can ignore us. We have decided to take all issues to their logical end.

NT: Will there be any floor adjustment with the BJP in the coming session?

HDK: I haven't thought about it as there is no request from the BJP. First let them come up with the proposal and then we will see. The BJP is yet to appoint the Leader of the Opposition and I would not like to comment on their internal matters. The issue of floor adjustment will be considered only if there is an invitation from the party.

NT: What are the issues that your party will raise in the upcoming Budget session?

HDK: We are going to raise every issue that concerns the common people. The delay in the implementation of five guarantee schemes will be mainly discussed in the session. Recently, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K.Shivakumar and a few ministers have appointed as personal assistants or advisers, the officers who have been trapped by Lokayukta for amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Have they been appointed to take advice on how to make money? The cases were pending against those officials and how could they be appointed without getting a clean chit from the investigative agencies? The Congress came to power with a promise to give corruption-free governance and already they have started making money. The best example is the transfer mafia with crores involved in the process. I have proof of transfers for money and it will be placed before the House. Let them explain.

NT: Will you attend all days of the current session; you have skipped many days in the past?

HDK: I will attend all sittings of the session because I want to expose this hypocritical government. There will be no compromise. All issues will be taken to their logical end. We will work to the satisfaction of the people of Karnataka.