Jana Samavesha begins with attack by CM on Opposition

Hassan: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has lashed out at the BJP for fighting against the Waqf Board.

Speaking to reporters before participating in the Jana Kalyana Samavesha in Hassan on Thursday, he alleged that they were fighting against the Waqf only to gain political mileage.

“What did the PM promise in his election manifesto in 2014? That he would talk to Muslim clerics and clear encroachments on Waqf land. Basavaraj Bommai, who was the CM earlier, had also spoken the same language. In fact, it is during the BJP regime that more Waqf notices were issued,” he claimed.

“The BJP has not acted as per its manifesto. Now, they are creating a drama to portray us in bad light. This is political hypocrisy,” the CM claimed.

“What else is happening in the winter session of the Assembly? They have nothing to talk about.  In the recent by-elections, Congress has won all three seats. After 25 years, we won in Shiggaon. We also won in Channapatna. We have wrested the two seats that they had won earlier, and the BJP is unable to digest this. That is why they have started the Waqf political drama,” he alleged.

When asked about the hearing of his appeal petition in the High Court, the CM said he did not know what happened and that the media should ask the lawyers. He clarified that he would not discuss court matters in public.

Jana Samavesha

The Congress Jana Kalyana Samavesha held at S.M. Krishna Nagar in the city was attended by huge crowds. Thousands of people from the district and neighbouring districts joined hands under the auspices of the KPCC-Backward Classes Unions.

Speaking after inaugurating the Samavesha, CM Siddaramaiah said that such a big convention had not been held in Hassan district in his 40 years of politics.

“Dr. Rajkumar had once said that his fans are God to him. For us, our voters are our God. I am overjoyed that the blessings of the people from all classes have resulted in these inspiring by-election victories,” the CM said.

Siddaramaiah also said that only the Congress can form a stable government in the state and country, and the JDS-BJP have never been able to come to power on their own merit.

“H.D. Kumaraswamy once again became CM with our support. The BJP then seized power through the backdoor, which proved that they did not have any internal strength,” he said.

“When we were in power from 2013-2018, we fulfilled 158 out of the 165 promises, but not even 10 percent of their promises has the BJP fulfilled,” he said.

“They are talking big about the BPL card. They said that they gave 5 kg of free rice to the poor and then increased it to 7 kg, but it is they who have hit the poor very hard. The Prime Minister said that the five guarantees would bankrupt the state. But now they are jealous over our success. It is the Central government that is doing us injustice by cutting our share of taxes and NABARD grants. But I promise you that our guarantees will not be stopped for any reason,” he said.

“Deve Gowda shed tears when the by-election results came out, but the people of Hassan laughed back. What about the tears of the women in Hassan district. Will Deve Gowda cry for them as well,” he said in a veiled reference to the serious reputational setbacks the Deve Gowda family has experienced owing to recent familial misdemeanours.