Cong digressing from principles: Vishwanath

Former MP H Vishwanath said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is mired in corruption.  “Siddaramaiah came to power with a promise to eradicate the corruption that the BJP government had been besotted with in Karnataka.

He has however, forgotten to fulfil his promise,” said Vishwanath. He was speaking at a meeting of his supporters in town on Saturday. “I have been with the Congress since 1975. Some people do not like those who speak straight. The Congress is not anyone’s property. It was started with a movement and is public property,” he advocated.

‘No democracy in party’

“The internal democracy in the Congress has disappeared. There is an Emergency-like situation in the party. Even senior leader Mallikarjuna Kharge is silent. I was once a star campaigner in the Congress, however, I was neglected during the by-election as well. My name was removed from the list of campaigners while Siddaramaiah’s son’s name was included. How can anyone digest such an insult,” he asked.

Insisting that the state government is not functioning based on the principles of the Congress, the former MP said that KPCC president G Parameshwara and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal are helpless. He added that he made all efforts to facilitate Siddaramaiah’s entry into the Congress when the latter did not have any power. “I have not been involved in mining, sand mafia and transfer issues. When I asked for the real picture, I was termed a betrayer,” he said.

Stating that Siddaramaiah lacks humanity and this attitude has left senior Congress leaders dejected, Vishwanath said he decided to make an honourable exit from public life. “The Congress has not hurt me, however, the attitude of the Congress leaders is not right. One should not be in a party that does not give respect. I will shortly tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress,” he added.

Supporters’ opinion

“After the resignation, I will seek the opinion of my supporters on which party to join, but I will not ask my supporters to come with me by quitting the Congress,” Vishwanath clarified. He also said that he was with a ‘mother-son party’ and hence, has not accused JD(S) of being a  ‘father-children party’.

Former MLA Basavaraj said that H Vishwanath should not lose confidence and promised to support him in the future.  Madikeri Block Congress president and CMC member K M Ganesh said, “We cannot stop leaders who betray the party. I have been engaged in organising the Congress programmes for the last 30 years. I was directed not to attend the meeting convened by Vishwanath. Former MP Vishwanath was instrumental in recognising Kodava Sahitya Academy president, KSRTC director and DCC president.”