HDK challenges BJP, Congress to a debate

Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy has challenged a section of the Congress and BJP leaders to a debate on each party’s contribution to the growth of Bengaluru.

Contribution to the City

Addressing a public rally as part of campaigning for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike elections in the Dattatreya Temple ward on Monday, he said, “Let BJP leaders D V Sadananda Gowda, Ananth Kumar and R Ashoka and the Congress’ G Parameshwara come for a public debate. I will be the lone representative for my party. Let us discuss each party’s contribution to the City. This would be better than taking to the streets to campaign for the candidates.”

He said the Congress, which was attacking the BJP in the City, had no shame seeking the support of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to fight the Bihar elections. This despite Kumar running the government by joining hands with the BJP. “Here, Parameshwara is suggesting we should remove the word ‘Secular’ from our party’s name, even as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are knocking the doors of Nitish Kumar,” he pointed out.

Kumaraswamy said the political speeches of Congress’ C M Ibrahim and BJP’s Ashoka were so coarse that they had been digging into the personal lives of senior leaders and talking about it in public. Instead, they should have spoken about how their parties improved Bengaluru, he said.

Scams
Referring to a series of scams faced by the BJP when it was in power in the BBMP Council, the JD(S) leader said Rs 600 crore was spent every year to clear garbage. Fake bills were produced to claim reimbursement towards transportation of garbage.

“Contractors produced bills claiming garbage was transported even on two-wheelers and in KSRTC buses. The loot of citizens’ money was humongous. But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did nothing to curb it,” he said.