Gowda scoffs at ‘holier than thou’ attitude of Congress

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Former prime minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda launched Janata Jaladhare Rath Yatra near Kabini dam in HD Kote taluk of Mysuru district on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the national parties Congress and BJP do not have any concern for irrigation projects. The projects were delayed due to the lack of commitment among other political parties. The JDS has a vision for the state and wants to complete all pending projects within five years, which it will achieve if it gets a full mandate to rule the state without the help of others.

On the ongoing war of words over ‘commission’ between BJP and Congress parties, Gowda said, “Which party is honest? Both parties were charging against each other. Has the Congress leaders not done any wrong? Tell me who is upright and clean-handed? When the Congress party was in power, PM Narendra Modi had termed it a 10 per cent government. I did not make any allegations then. I will not comment now either. Corruption is everywhere and politics has gone beyond the repairable stage.”

The former PM said some people talk about a pre-poll alliance with the BJP and come out with stories after every programme of the JD(S). “Has anyone from the BJP attended the function? They simply make such allegations. Let them do it,” he added.

He said there was no reason for anyone from contractors’ associations pulling up his party workers or leaders. “Is my son a PWD minister or Water Resources minister?” he asked.

“I would have spoken up if my son was in charge of any ministry. Let them make the charges. Who is bothered,” he added.