BY Team Mangalorean Bangalore

Bangalore, March 20, 2009: Blaming the Hindu Samajotsav rally at Mangalore for a series of communal disturbances in coastal districts of Karnataka, the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal leader, H.D. Deve Gowda, alleged that the communal situation in Karnataka was worse than Gujarat.

Speaking to media persons at the party’s headquarters here on Friday, Mr. Gowda flayed the BJP and its affiliated outfits for organising the Hindu Samjotsav rallies which had a objective of creating a “Hindu vote bank” for reaping political dividends in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Recalling series of communal incidents that had rocked coastal districts, particularly Dakshina Kannada after the VHP organised the Hindu Samajotsav in Mangalore on March 15, Mr. Gowda said the BJP had changed its poll strategy and had begun consolidating voters on communal lines. He lamented the presence of Home Minister V.S. Acharya at the rally in Mangalore.

The BJP would not seek votes from the people based on the B.S. Yeddyurappa-led government’s achievements in the last 10 months. In fact, there was achievement to place before the electorate, he claimed.

Welcoming the Election Commission’s decision to issue a notice to BJP candidate Varun Gandhi, who is contesting form Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency in UP, he said statements made by Mr. Gandhi had communal overtones and posed a danger to the secular fabric of the country.

Mr. Gowda said the proposal to come out with a national policy document for the Front had been dropped following the constituent parties’ decision to come out with their individual manifestos.

The Janata Dal (S) has urged the Election Commission of India to take action against the organizers of the Hindu rally on the grounds of the violation of model code of conduct and electoral offence. JD (S) spokesperson Y S V Datta said the law ban seeking of votes on religious lines and the Election Commission should issue a notice to Home Minister V S Acharya, who attended the rally in Mangalore on March 15. The Minister’s presence amounted to sending a message to the Hindu fundamentalists that the BJP led Government headed by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is with them, the JD-S leader alleged.

Following the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer M. N. V. Vidyashankar’s direction, the JD-S today submitted a written complaint to the commission seeking action against the organizers. ''JD(S) had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, seeking action against the ministers concerned'' Gowda added.

Continuing his tirade against Ashok Kheny, Managing Director of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Ltd (NICE), which is executing the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor(BMIC), Mr Gowda alleged that ''it was a Rs 30,000 crore scam involving politicians, bureaucrats and contractors. I will fight to my last nerve against the project which is being executed against the interests of the people of the State''. Referring to media reports that Ashok Kheny was contemplating to contest against him in the ensuing polls, Mr Gowda alleged that vested interests have joined together to finish him, as they find him a stumbling block in looting the State resources.

Third Front leader after the LS polls

Third Front will elect their leader only after the results of Lok Sabha elections, former Prime Minister and Janata Dal(Secular) JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda said today.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Gowda said the constituents of Third Front would contest the ensuing elections on their own manifestos and will formulate a mutually accepted 'Common Minimum Programme'(CMP) for the Front after the polls.

On the selection of the leader of the Front, the former Prime Minister said they will evolve a consensus on the candidate after the declaration of election results.

Mr Gowda said Left Democratic Front(LDF) in Kerala has refused to allot Kozhikode seat to JD(S), which it had won in the 2004 elections. The high command will await outcome of the Kerala JD(S) State Council Meeting on March 22 to discuss the issue, before taking a decision, he added.