Gowda backs Hazare's stir

Addressing reporters, Gowda demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should immediately convene a meeting of leaders of all parties to debate the issue.

Gowda said his party would launch a separate campaign against corruption in the State after the byelection.

He alleged that the BJP had been adopting double standards over corruption in Karnataka, and demanded that the saffron party should spell out its stand over the issue.

Ironically, Gowda’s son and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy himself is facing charges of nepotism and bending rules to denotify public land.  The BJP has lodged a complaint in this regard with the Lokayukta.