JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Sunday said that he would clear the party of BJP ‘B’ team charge by holding a minorities convention in Bengaluru on January 17.

Addressing the party workers here, Gowda said, “AICC president Rahul Gandhi on his own did not make B team remark. He had just read the speech written by someone. A massive rally for minorities will be organised at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru on Jan 17. We will explain to the Muslims what the party has done to them over the years.”

The JD(S) will hold its national executive committee meeting on January 29 and 30 followed by a women convention, Gowda said.

Gowda said that the party would not compromise on its principles just to remain in power. “A section of people claim that the party (JD-S) will compromise for anything to remain in power, which is not right. It is common to comment on a few niggles in the coalition government. But, we will not allow the government to fall at any cost,” he said.

Taking a dig at Narendra Modi, Gowda said, “Towering claims in speeches will not help Modi to come to power again. The Centre has come up with legislation to provide 10% reservation for the economically poor upper classes. There are about 3% Brahmins, 18% Lingayats and 14% Vokkaligas. How can this be categorised? No party is holding discussions in this regard,” he questioned.

After taking a decision on seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress and the JD(S) would jointly campaign for the candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he said.