Former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda has warned former chief minister Siddaramaiah against talking lightly against his party. He also dared the Congress leader to “speak the truth”.
The JDS patriarch was addressing the inaugural session of the four-day Janata Parva 1.0—a training workshop for the party legislators and ticket hopefuls.
The workshop, which started today, is part of the 'Mission 123' campaign organised at former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's farmhouse at Kethaganahalli in Bidadi.
“It was I who brought Siddaramaiah to the Janata Dal Secular party and told people he was not just another individual but a force,” said Deve Gowda. “But he conspired to defeat me in Tumkur to avenge his own defeat in Mysuru (Chamundeshwari).
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Deve Gowda added that Siddaramaiah keeps claiming he was thrown out of the JDS, but in reality, the latter supported the Congress party in the zilla panchayat elections even though he was still with the JDS.
Siddaramaiah, on Sunday, had remarked that the JDS would win only about 30 of 224 seats in the assembly elections, and would go with any party as they cannot come to power on their own.
Deve Gowda slammed the Kuruba strongman for calling the JDS as the BJP's 'B team' before the 2018 assembly polls.
“He should know he is talking about the man who has always practised secular politics,” said the 88-year-old JDS leader.
“The Congress party that shares power with the Shiv Sena has called the JDS as the 'B team' of BJP. Siddaramaiah calls the BJP government in Karnataka as wretched. But he must tell the truth as to who was behind bringing the BJP to power in the state. He kept saying he gave the people free rice and what not and yet his party won only 78 seats.”
The Vokkaliga strongman dared Siddaramaiah to strive hard to make his son the CM instead of criticising others.
Deve Gowda speaking at the event
“The day Sanjay Gandhi died, Indira Gandhi brought in Rajiv Gandhi and transferred the power. If you think your son is also destined to become the chief minister, field him, work hard to ensure you succeed in it. God sees the truth but waits, goes the saying. If you have the patience, make a strong resolve, enroll members at the taluk and zilla panchayat levels before challenging the Janata party,” said Deve Gowda.
Earlier, in a series of tweets, Kumaraswamy hit back at Siddaramaiah saying: “Siddaramaiah came and occupied the house (JDS) built by others. He backstabbed the JDS and is now swallowing the Congress and felling its tall leaders, too.
“He is the one who depends on others to grow in politics. He announced 7kg free rice for the poor as the CM, but made budgetary provision for only 5kg of rice.
“Everyone knows who pulled down the coalition government.”
