JOIN USKarnataka Janata Party (KJP) President B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday accused the Congress of failing to empower Muslims and using them only as vote bank in the last six decades.
Speaking after inaugurating a convention of KJP minorities cell at the Palace Grounds here, he alleged that the Congress did not allow Muslims to grow economically and had followed a divide and rule policy for its electoral gains.
Yeddyurappa said it was a deliberate attempt by the Congress to keep the Muslims economically and financially backward to use them as vote bank.
“Many of the minorities have remained workers in cycle repair shops but have not become its owners. They have remained taxi drivers but have not become taxi owners. Muslims should stop believing in the Congress,” he said.
The former chief minister’s direct attack on the Congress has come as a surprise. There is speculation in political circles that the KJP would come to a post-poll understanding with the Congress. Yeddyurappa had even openly praised Congress president Sonia Gandhi for coming to the rescue of her partymen when in crisis.
Yeddyurappa promised special housing, educational and co-operative schemes for the minorities if voted to power. He said he would earmark Rs 1,000 crore for setting up cooperative banks for the welfare of women from minority communities if the KJP government comes to power.
Yeddyurappa said his government would strive to bring Muslims into the mainstream by ensuring their overall development. Replying to queries from reporters, Yeddyurappa said he had suggested that the proposed university for minorities at Srirangapatna be named after former president Abdul Kalam.