BENGALURU: Tears trickled down the cheeks of father and son duo JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who turned emotional while accusing BJP leaders of creating distrust and suspicion about their programmes among the people. Addressing a gathering at a programme organised at JP Bhavan to felicitate JD(S) MLAs on Saturday, Kumaraswamy compared himself to mythological ‘Vishakanta’ for swallowing all pains inflicted by the coalition government to offer ‘Amrutha’.
“Everyone around me are elated when I was made chief minister but I am not happy,’’ he said. “People surround me wherever I go but they did not remember me while casting votes. Even after undergoing surgery for the second time, I have toiled day and night ignoring my health. Despite many challenges, I am waiving farm loans. I do not know whether farmers will give me water or poison,’’ he said, choking over his words. Reacting to criticisms, Kumaraswamy said if he wanted, he would give up the chief minister’s post within two hours. “I am the son of the great Deve Gowda who turned his back on the Prime Minister’s post. I am disappointed that people have failed to understand me,’’ he said.
Accusing the BJP of forcing fishermen to belittle him, he said he was pained when a fisherwoman declared “Kumaraswamy is not our chief minister”.Asserting that he was not biased against those who had not voted for his party, he promised to meet fishermen within a fortnight to discuss their problems. The CM said he was shocked when mango growers set their produce on fire. “This is why I released `25 crore for these growers,” he said. He said he had directed officials to release water from KRS dam to replenish lakes in and around Mandya.
Wiping his teary eyes, he announced the launch of a mobile bank in order to disburse interest-free loans to farmers. Kumaraswamy urged the public not harbour any grudge and dampen his enthusiasm to serve the poor.
‘Withdraw rowdysheeter cases filed against JD(S) workers’
Earlier, Deve Gowda urged the CM to withdraw rowdysheeter cases filed against party workers during the recent polls. He urged party workers facing cases not to lose patience. “With our share being limited to 20 to 30 corporations, everyone cannot be made heads of corporations,’’ he added.