We don’t patronise criminals: HDK

[1]

One need not be in power to draw the crowds. An example is former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the political heir of former prime minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, who has been out of power for six years but still has people thronging his Sadashivanagar Guest House to meet him and get their work done. Whether it is 10 am or late in the evening, the situation is the same. Amidst the preparations for a Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) rally scheduled for this week, the JD(S) state president talked with Deccan Chronicle on a wide range of issues.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

The BJP says elections will be held early next year but you have already started preparations. How are they going?
The election may be 90 days or 180 days away. It makes no difference. Whether elections are held in April next year or December this year, we will be ready. I have finished touring 30 districts. In many constituencies, we have informed leaders who our candidates will be. In nearly 140 constituencies, we have asked for inputs on potential candidates, seeking information on their popularity and public conduct. Once we get the information, we will finalise the candidates.

Who is your rival— BJP or Congress?
For me both are equal rivals. For them, the JD (S) may not be a competitor and they may discount us. But, they are scared as they know we can cut into their base. In North Karnataka, we have made tremendous inroads but we still have a long way to go. The Congress at the Centre says that the BJP government is a curse on Karnataka an should be overthrown. Similarly, the BJP says the Congress led UPA is the worst government they have seen. Why does the BJP adopt double standards? Why can't they dissolve the assembly as their government here has failed to deliver the goods?

At a senior Congress leaders’ meeting held last week in New Delhi, it was decided that the party would have no truck with the JD (S). How do you react to this?
I was surprised to see this. Did anyone from our party approach the Congress with a request? When there were no talks, why should anyone speak about this? I think, the Congress seems to be worried that they cannot come to power without our help.

Have you struck a secret pact with some senior leaders in the Congress?
No. Absolutely not. When we have a chance to come to power on our own, why should we have an understanding with anyone else?

You keep saying that people will reject the BJP and Congress because both are corrupt. But, you too are on anticipatory bail in a similar scam case. Members of your family are facing very serious charges in disproportionate asset cases. Comment.

Some people misused their offices and framed us. I can say confidently that neither me nor my family members have abused power. Nor did I get any money as kickbacks. As for my brother, Balakrishne Gowda, the Lokayukta police have filed a chargesheet saying he amassed ill-gotten wealth. They are trying to create a situation so that no one should do legal business. The income from legal means was categorised as illegal money which is why we objected.

If you are honest, why do you have to obtain anticipatory bail?
The law of the land is such that even the honest can be trapped. Someone who does not indulge in any corrupt practice, can be sent behind bars on false charges. To avoid this, we obtained anticipatory bail.

Last week, you threatened officials filing cases. Last year, your father threatened the Lokayukta ADGP. Isn’t it a paradox that when you are in power, you preach the law and when out of office, you threaten officers? Is this ethical?
No. we never threatened anyone. Our’s was a request not to frame charges at the behest of someone else.

Many in your party said that you deviated from the principles of your father. You sold party votes in the Rajya Sabha and in the recent Council elections.
We have to see this issue from a different perspective. We selected a loyal party worker as our first candidate in the recent legislative council elections from the assembly. Then came the issue of surplus votes. Neither the Congress nor anyone else approached us seeking support. And we were not in a position to field and elect a second candidate as we had only six surplus votes. At that juncture, independent candidate Bhairati Suresh approached us. We supported him. Similarly in the Rajya Sabha elections, we did not have enough votes to field a candidate, so we backed UB Group chairman Dr Vijay Mallya. Obviously those who could not get tickets, spread canards against me. I cannot help it.

Moving onto criminals in politics, sometime ago, JD (S) corporator Diwan Ali, a notorious criminal was killed. Then people witnessed the killing of BEML Krishnappa, a dreaded criminal and zilla panchayat member in a shootout. It is no longer a secret that the culprits involved in the honour killing in Mandya had stayed at a JD(S) leader’s house. Is the JD (S) turning into a party of criminals?
No, it is a wrong perception. We have never patronised criminals. If a criminal becomes transformed into a Good Samaritan, it is our duty to pat him, help him grow. There was Auto Raja who transformed to become a friend of the society in which he lived. Similarly, Diwan Ali and Krishnappa never indulged in any criminal activity after they joined the JD (S). If anyone comes out with evidence to prove that they had indulged in criminal activity, I am ready to retire from politics.

When the JD (S) was formed, there were many stalwarts like Kuruba leader Siddaramaiah. As a result, your party won 58 seats in the 2004 assembly elections. Now, there is none. Do you feel that you need a leader like Siddaramaiah to get votes outside the Vokkaliga heartland?
We had M.P. Prakash, P.G.R. Sindhia and Siddaramaiah in 2004. And we won 58. In 2008, we had no stalwarts. Even Mr Sindhia was not with us then. The power transfer issue under a coalition pact with the BJP, was still an issue then. In spite of this, we managed to win 28 seats and in 39, our candidates lost by a margin of 400 to 3,500 votes. I, as JD(S) state president, travelled across the state. No one saw me as a mere Vokkaliga leader, I saw people from all sections showering their love on me. I never seek votes on caste lines, so I do not feel the absence of those who left us.

If elections were held tomorrow, how many seats would your party win?
This is not an off-the-cuff remark. After obtaining the reports from various regions, I am confident that people will give the Janata Dal (S) the seats required for a majority.

But do you have candidates for all 224 constituencies?
Why not? In some constituencies, I have one candidate. In many others, I have a problem of plenty with eight to ten strong contenders.

Lastly, many say you failed as an MP because did not utilise the MPLAD fund. Comment.
It is not my fault. You have to hold the government officials responsible for it. The recommendations and requests given by me were not honoured, the utilisation certifications were not submitted. This led to non-utilisation of funds. In hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. Because, now, the funds can be utilised in drought hit areas. I have been drowned with calls from people from these areas seeking help to get drinking water. I am helping them with MPLAD funds.