Mangaluru: Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Dr. G Parameshwara, on August 10, dismissed the controversial statements made by Janata Dal (S) MLC Bhoje Gowda about Congress’ defeat as a “personal opinion.” Bhoje Gowda had recently attributed defeat of the Congress party to “anti-Hindutva policies.”
Speaking at a press meet held here in Circuit House on Friday, on the sidelines of his visit to Mangaluru to attend a function at Bhatkal, Parameshwara said that it was a personal opinion of Bhoje Gowda and that the party had carried out an introspection to know why it secured fewer seats in the assembly elections.
Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of farm loan waiver and the rising farmer suicides, Parameshwara said though the central government was turning a blind eye to the farmers’ plight, the state government had responded to the challenges faced by them. “The Prime Minister could not waive off the debt burden of the farmers accrued from the nationalised banks. The state government plans to let off the farm loan in the nationalised banks also,” he said.
The DCM re-assured the people that the schemes launched by the Siddaramiah-led government in the state would be continuing. “We are committed to providing good governance in the progressive state of Karnataka,” he added. He also took potshots referring to the BJP government led by Yeddyurappa in 2008 to 2013. “During 2008-13, when BJP was in power, hardly any development took place. We will face the same situation if the BJP comes back to power,” he cautioned.
Parameshwara categorically denied any possibility of an alliance with the coalition partners JD(S) in the local body elections in the state scheduled to be held in this month.
Replying to a media query, the DCM said that the state government would take action to deport any illegal migrants, including Bangladeshis and African nationals, residing in the state.
Former MLAs Pramod Madhwaraj and J R Lobo, former minister B Ramanath Rai and District Congress President Harish Kumar among others were present.
