‘There’s enough anti-incumbency to throw BJP out of power’

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

 Bengaluru

 Former Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara who has been away from the limelight for some time, has said that he did not favour the abolition of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), adding that it was agency meant to check corruption.

 “If you remove these institutions or you dismantle these institutions, I think in a way you are encouraging corruption,” Parameshwara opined. “Be it ACB or Lokayukta or similar agencies, they were formed to fight corruption,” he added.

 The Congress veteran hit back at the BJP for claiming that erstwhile Congress governments had withdrawn criminal cases against individuals for political reasons, adding that it was the BJP-led State government, which had given a political colour to the withdrawn cases. “I have been the (State) home minister twice. It has to be a collective decision if cases are to be withdrawn,” he said. The cases had been withdrawn under the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, who had maintained they had withdrawn cases against peaceful protesters.

 Parameshwara expressed confidence that the present State government had gathered enough anti-incumbency to be thrown out of power in the upcoming Assembly polls in May next year. “You know what is happening in the country and especially in the state. Prices of essential commodities are going to be an issue in this election. Corruption is going to be a major issue. BJP is responsible, both at the Centre and the State level.

“People are suffering at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party government. That is going to be an issue in the elections. Congress, as a party has ruled the country and the state for a longer time and is concerned about people’s welfare. We are going to take this message to people of the state and we are definitely going to come back to power,” he said. “How to do you expect a person who has to pay Rs105 for a litre of petrol and Rs1,000 for a gas cylinder to vote for them? Essential commodities, even vegetables will cost you more. There is no limit for these people to tax you,” he added

‘No such thing as Dalit CM’

 When asked if time had come for Karnataka to elect a Dalit chief minister, Parameshwara remained evasive. “There is no Dalit chief minister. There is a chief minister. An opportunity may be given to anybody. First of all we have to try and get the party to power. That is our intention,” he said. “That (CM candidate) will be decided by our high command,” he added.

The former KPCC president said that the BBMP delimitation and reservation exercises had been done poorly. “They have not done it (BBMP delimitation and reservations) properly. I was in-charge of the Bengaluru city for 18 months. I know how these things work and Bengaluru needs special attention. This has to be done seriously and then only can Bengaluru can be developed as an international city,” he said.