‘Soft approach’ to BJP over: HDK

NT Correspondent

Former CM and JD(S) Leader H.D. Kumaraswamy said his bonhomie with the ruling BJP has ended and henceforth, he would be highly critical of the failures of the current government.

“All these years I had extended my co-operation to the government keeping in mind the Covid-19 pandemic which has ravaged the lives of thousands of people across the state. From today, the BJP will see a new Kumaraswamy who will not spare the gover nment for its mistakes till the 2023 Assembly election”, he said at a press conference here on Monday.

Accusing CM Basavaraj Bommai of keeping mum on several happenings in the state in the last two months, the JD(S) leader said it started with the hijab row at a college in Udupi district which spread to other districts. After the hijab controversy, rightwing activists such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Sri Rama Sene started fresh controversies such as the halal vs Jhatka meat row, economic boycott of Muslim traders and the removal of a lesson on Tipu from school/ college textbooks.

The home department has remained silent on all these controversies without initiating action against such elements who are trying to spoil peace, tranquility and religious harmony. This is only the beginning as many issues would unravel in the next one year. The tag of ‘religious tolerance’ earned by Karnataka all these years, had been spoiled by fringe elements who have total disregard for the law of the land.

Kumaraswamy also lamb a s t e d the Congress party for putting the blame on the JD(S) for ev - erything and said Congress leaders were squarely responsible for whatever was happening in the state. In the name of opposing the BJP, the Congress indirectly supported the boycott of the House and allowed two important bills, Anti-Conversion and AntiCow Slaughter bill to be passed fearing loss of its vote bank. The Grand Old Party of Karnataka does not have a stand of its own on sensitive and controversial issues and supports the BJP by keeping mum at crucial junctures. The time has come to unmask the true colours of Congress leaders, he added.