'Chanting Constitution just lip service for Congress, local bodies have no democracy,' says H D Kumaraswamy

Mysuru: Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, the Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, always chant the Constitution ‘mantra’, but they have denied democracy to local bodies, including Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and panchayats, over the past several years.

Speaking to media persons, in Mysuru, on Monday, Kumaraswamy said, the love and respect for the Constitution is just lip-service for the Congress. “They have denied the people, the constitutional right, to elect their representatives in the local bodies,” he said.

No safety

In reply to a question on the attack by Marathi-speaking persons on North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) bus staff in Belagavi, Kumaraswamy said, Kannadigas are not safe in Belagavi.

Condemning the attack, the Union Minister asked the State government, “Whom is this government protecting? A minister even gave a speech in Marathi”.

"In 2006-07, when I was Chief Minister, a delegation from Maharashtra met then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to discuss a proposal to annex Belagavi. I made Belagavi Karnataka’s second capital and laid the foundation stone for Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, to assert our rights. Now, Belagavi has turned chaotic," he said.

Futile record

“Besides, Home Minister G Parameshwara has attained political dispassion and is talking about resignation. Despite winning 136 seats, this government does not care about the people. Ministers like H C Mahadevappa claim that the CM is all set to create a new record in tenure. They should understand that it’s not about how long you have governed; it’s about how many people's problems you have solved,” Kumaraswamy said.

Responding to a question on caste census, Kumaraswamy stated, “Why are they not releasing it? Who is stopping them? The Kantharaj Commission was constituted by the same Siddaramaiah, a decade ago. Now, his own Congress party MLA from Channagiri states that no one visited his house, for caste census”.

Helpless Lokayukta

Regarding the exclusion of Siddaramaiah’s family members, by the Lokayukta, from the probe into the alleged MUDA scam, Kumaraswamy said, the Lokayukta itself needs divine protection, as it has become helpless.

He said, “Everyone knows what happened in the MUDA scam. The documents tell the truth. But, the Chief Minister has orchestrated the Lokayukta report, to suit his convenience. This case cannot be brought to a logical end, because the government has interfered at every stage of investigation. We are being harassed on our land issue, for raising this issue. Forty years ago, when I was a film distributor in Mysuru, I bought this land. Now, they claim that 14 acres of it have been encroached upon. The government itself claims that there are no original documents. But suddenly, new claimants have emerged. Who are they? Where did they come from?”

“Let them conduct an international survey — I am not afraid. Is Siddaramaiah a modern-day Satya Harishchandra? What about the Hinakal Sakamma land dispute? What is Siddaramaiah’s role in it?” the Minister asked.

B-katha in hurry

“Why has Siddaramaiah asked his officials to issue B-katha to illegal sites and buildings, on a war-footing, in such a hurry? It is not out of love for the people, but to swindle them. The government is swindling the people in all ways, by increasing the price of milk, water, liquor, bus fare, metro fee, stamp duty, to keep its promise on its guarantees. It is looting the people, to keep its promise,” he said.

Ex-MLA M Ashwin Kumar, ex-ministers C S Puttaraju and Sa Ra Mahesh, MLC C N Manjegowda, MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and BJP state spokesman M G Mahesh were present.