“THE Opposition in the Karnataka Legislature as well as outside is hopelessly unprofessional and absolutely irresponsible,” Minister for Medical Education Ramachandra Gowda said, in an exclusive interview with Organiser representative Rudrapratap Markandeya, at Davanagere soon after the mammoth conference organised by the State BJP.
He said that both the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) have failed to function as a meaningful, constructive Opposition parties inside and outside the Legislature, as they have not been able to convince the people with credible proof of glaring irregularities either in the policies and schemes of the BS Yeddyurappa led BJP government or in the day-to-administration. “The Bhagyalakshmi scheme where a girl child gets Rs 1 lakh after she attains the age of 18, is a revolutionary scheme never thought of anywhere in India. This will, at one stroke, end female foeticide and also encourage women education. Giving loan to farmers at 3 per cent is truly historic. Are these not to be appreciated by the Congress?,” he asked.
He said, “The Opposition has made illegal mining as a major issue. Yes. I agree it is a major issue but where is the proof of the alleged involvement of the Reddy brothers as being charged by the Congress? Have they been able to give even a shred of evidence to nail the Reddy brothers. Probe can be ordered only if there is some document to prove that prima facie there is something substantial. But without giving any proof, it is illogical to demand a CBI probe,” the medical education minister added.
In his view, the Congress and the JD (S) have never indulged in a constructive, meaningful, intellectually stimulating and a vibrant debate.
Charging the Congress of having vested interest in demanding CBI probe into illegal mining issue, Ramachandra Gowda said the motive of the Congress party in asking for CBI probe is to save their own skin, kith and kin who are past-masters in mining since several decades.
“We are correct in not giving the probe of illegal mining to CBI, as its track-record in taking the probe to logical end is pathetic. Under the Congress, CBI has become an effective tool to take revenge against its political opponents. That is why, we have handedover the case of illegal mining to the Lokayukta after the institution was empowered to a significant extent,” the minister said.
He said, “The rudimentary principle in a parliamentary democracy is that the Opposition party will have its say and the ruling party will have its way. But has the Congress in Karnataka adhered to this principle? And they talk of their commitment to democracy. They are shameless to the core.”
Asserting that the BJP/NDA did not misuse the CBI during its six year tenure, Ramachandra Gowda, a hardcore swayamsevak since early 50s said, “The CBI is probing the December 6, 1992 demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya. Advani is one of the accused. But he was the country’s home minister as well as the deputy prime minister under whom the CBI functioned directly. But even after six years of demitting office in 2004, he is facing the CBI probe. It would not have been difficult to handle the CBI to submit a B report and wash off the hands but a man of integrity that Advani is, he never bothered as it is his conviction that he will come unscathed. Did we misuse the CBI like the Congress?,” he asked.
He reeled out some of the cases dealt by the CBI which has helped the Congress such as escape of Ottovio Quetrrocchi, the prime suspect in the Bofors case, fair fax case involving Ajay Singh, the son of late VP Singh, Taj Corridor issue to harass UP CM Mayawati, etc, etc..
In his view both the Opposition parties, Congress and the JD (S) in Karnataka are intolerant, something unhealthy in a democracy. “Both the parties do not have the maturity or wisdom to differentiate between an enemy and an opponent. BJP believes that in politics, there can be political and ideological opponents but never enemies. But unfortunately, the conduct and behaviour of the Congress and the JD (S) is so abominable that they think it is a sin or a crime for the BJP to come to power. They simply spew venom, their attitude is that of hostile, vicious,” the medical education minister said.
Concluding his comments, Ramachandra Gowda said, “The Congress and JD (S) have proved to be a lousy Opposition because these parties were never a good ruling parties. But it is the opposite with the BJP. We had proved to be a meaningful, effective and constructive Opposition, and hence we have proved to be a meaningful, constructive and effective ruling party.”
He also said, the BJP has won almost all the seats in the by-elections to Assembly, 19 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats, absolute majority in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palika elections, graduates and teachers constituencies as well as the gram panchayat elections where majority of the members owe their allegiance to the BJP. It means that the people, in urban and rural centres, have endorsed the BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP government’s policies and programmes. It would be better if the Opposition parties ponder over this issue, if they believe in meaningful and participatory democracy.
