H D Deve Gowda criticises Siddaramaiah-led govt, heaps praise on PM Modi in RS

New Delhi: Attacking the Congress headed Karnataka government in Rajya Sabha, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda Thursday said that there is no governance in the state due to too much corruption by ruling dispensation.

Despite the Congress getting 135 seats in the state, leaders are fighting for the chair instead of concentrating on the governance, Gowda alleged while participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in Upper House.

Due to corruption by ministers, several officers have died by suicide. Funds kept for the welfare of the SC/ST’s have been diverted. Though Karnataka is known for being the most progressive state, now it is lagging behind in all fronts, Gowda said.

He also said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was aware of the current developments in the state.

Supporting Gowda, the BJP members shouted, “Shame, Shame”, while Congress members strongly objected to this speech saying he was deviating from the main topic of discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.

Talking about the shortage of drinking water in Bengaluru city, Gowda said that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can solve the problem. Bengaluru got only 20 tmc feet of Cauvery water in a year while it required 50 tmc feet of water per annum to meet the demand.

Veteran Janata Dal (Secular) leader recounted allegations of being "communal" and "enemy to federal structure" levelled by the opposition against the Modi government and said that when he (Modi) didn’t get full majority in the third term, regional parties came together to solidly support him.

Calling Modi as "tallest leader", Gowda said Modi knows how to run the administration as he has got experience as prime minister and chief minister.

“He is the only tallest leader in this country who can run the country,” Gowda said.

The former PM also highlighted his challenges during early years of life, struggles in politics and work done as prime minister. He said that though his tenure as PM was less than a year, even in that short period he gave reservation to the Jat community of Rajasthan.