JD(S) still strong, party won’t be finished: Deve Gowda at Hassan rally

Hassan: JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Saturday asserted that the party remains “strong” and said its silver jubilee rally in Hassan was a clear message to those who had written it off. Targeting the ruling Congress in Karnataka, the former prime minister said the JD(S) continues to be a political force under the leadership of H D Kumaraswamy.

Addressing a massive gathering in his home district, Gowda said, “This event is to send a message to the whole country, and the people of the state that JD(S) is still strong.” He alleged that the Congress had held only two conventions in Hassan district in the last two-and-a-half years.

“We are sending a message that under the leadership of Kumaraswamy, JD(S) is strong. This message should be sent to our opponents who held two rallies in this district and tried to completely destroy Revanna’s leadership here,” Gowda said, flanked by his sons Kumaraswamy and H D Revanna.

Addressing party workers, he said they had sent a message to the ruling dispensation that its “game won’t last long” and that the JD(S) was firmly behind Kumaraswamy and Revanna. JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, party legislators and senior leaders were present at the rally.

Sharing a personal note, the 93-year-old leader said he was undergoing dialysis thrice a week after suffering kidney failure two months ago, but still chose to attend the rally out of gratitude to the people of Hassan. “My soul is clean. I did not bow down to any obligations. I have worked hard. The people of Hassan, who defeated me, have also made me victorious,” he said.

Gowda expressed outrage over the state government’s decision to reward the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing sexual assault cases against his grandson and former MP Prajwal Revanna. He said the same team had arrested his son Revanna. However, he did not refer to Prajwal Revanna, who is currently in jail, during his speech.

Looking ahead, Gowda said he hoped to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Hassan for a mega convention of BJP and JD(S) MPs to push for projects such as an IIT and airport development. He also said Kumaraswamy, now a Union minister, has plans for industrial clusters, reviving HMT and the Bhadravati steel plant.

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, Gowda said Congress was in power in only three states and had won just six seats in Bihar despite making repeated allegations of “vote chori”.