With the goal of forming the next BJP Government in Karnataka, BJP National President Amit Shah on his three-day visit to the State vowed to make Karnataka a Congress free State
R Guruprasad from Bengaluru
The entire Karnataka BJP was revitalised following a three-day comprehensive visit of BJP National President Amit Shah from August 12 to 14. Before leaving Bengaluru, a visibly confident Amit Shah said that he was confident of throwing out the corrupt Congress Government in Karnataka and BJP was sure to come back in the southern State. He said the party would fight the next Assembly polls under the leadership of State party chief B S Yeddyurappa and reap electoral benefits because of the goodwill shown by the Modi Government towards Karnataka in extending development grants.
Shah’s programmes during his three-day stay included interaction with intellectuals, meeting religious leaders, state functionaries, Legislators, MPs, and leaders of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
During his visit, Shah took part in the Political Affairs Committee meeting of the party and visited Adi Chunchanagiri Math at Nagamangala in Mandya district besides meeting Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Shah addressed party “vistaraks” (volunteers) who had fanned out across the State to get feedback from the people. He also met the non-BJP leaders who had recently joined the saffron party. Shah said that, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Vijay Rath’ would reach Karnataka in next February-March, party workers should be ready with their quest to make inroads into the southern India by winning the Karnataka Assembly polls.
‘Corrupt Congress’
On the Siddaramaiah Government’s divisive politics over Hindi issue, Shah said “Why didn’t Siddaramaiah raise this issue two days after taking oath as Chief Minister? He has raised this issue few months prior to the election as his political game plan and only to play vote-bank politics”. When asked to respond to Congress’ allegation that the BJP Government at the Centre is using central
agencies to book their leaders during Gujarat MLAs’ stay here at a resort, Shah said, “Is it right to keep MLAs as hostage when a part of Gujarat was reeling under floods? Let Congress give reply on it first, then I will answer all their questions.” On the timing of IT raids on State Energy Minister D K Shivakumar’s properties, Shah said, “Why doesn’t Congress seek resignations from their leaders, whose black money and benami property come to light during raids?”
BJP announced a week-long agitation against the State Government, particularly against Power Minister D K Shivakumar, over corruption. BJP State party chief B S Yeddyurappa said in a statement that the saffron party had taken a serious note of no action being taken by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against the minister in the wake of the IT raids.
Politics Over Lingayat
Asked about the demand for a separate religion status for Lingayats, the largest community in Karnataka, Shah said “This is a political game of Siddaramaiah.” During a press
conference on August 14, Amit Shah said that a separate religion status for Lingayats was a political conspiracy hatched by the Congress and BJP won’t support it. Sources said that while Congress was trying its best to break the unity among the Lingayats by encouraging them to go for a
separate religion status, BJP leaders believe that many in Lingayats are upset over the great divide. In fact, many Lingayats and Veerashaivas are hurt over the way their communities are being divided by political leaders for votes. BJP wants to unite all the sub-castes of the Lingayats and Veerashaivas. In fact, with many of the Veerashaiva Jagadguru are against a separate Lingayat religion status.
False Allegations
It has become a habbit for Karnataka Congress to always point fingers at the Union Government. However, Shah rebutted all their claims saying that the Centre has always been generous when it comes to dealing with Karnataka’s issues. Refuting Siddaramaiah’s charges that the Union Government is showing step-motherly treatment to Karnataka, Shah branded the State’s Congress Government as the most corrupt in the country. Shah also accused the State Government of targeted killings of BJP workers in the State and alleged that it was doing appeasement politics, while claiming that his party will form the next government in the State under the leadership of its leader and former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa.
The BJP chief said that the Modi Government had introduced 106 central schemes but their benefits were not reaching people in the State. Under the Manmohan Singh rule, Karnataka had received Rs 61,691 crore from the Central Government, but under the 14th Finance Commission, the Centre gave Rs 1,86,975 crore to the State, the money has increased three folds under Narendra Modi’s Government.
Congress Free State
Amit Shah vowed to free Karnataka from Congress. “We have to free Karnataka from the Congress for ever as its Government in the State is the most corrupt in the country. We have to ensure that the Congress does not return to power again,” he warned party leaders here on the second day of his three-day visit to the State. We would camp in the city from October onwards to tour and address public rallies across the state for bringing the BJP back to power. Though the BJP could not retain power in 2013 after forming its first government in the State in 2008 for various reasons, the conditions are favourable this time to not only win a majority, but also to form the next government. Citing initial surveys conducted by the party and others separately, he claimed that the people have made up their mind to give the BJP another chance owing to the failure of the Congress Government in delivering its promises. Accusing the Congress of polarising the people on caste and religious lines by promising a particular community separate
recognition and job quota, Shah said the ruling party had no development agenda, but was instead indulging in caste politics and language politics by accusing the Centre of imposing Hindi in the state and denying river water share and seeking a separate flag for the State.
Controversy Backfires
Amit Shah’s visit to Adi Chunchanagiri Math, which is highly regarded by the dominant Vokkaliga community in the State, is seen as an attempt to woo the community. Vokkaligas are the second largest community in Karnataka after Lingayats; they are significantly present in the old Mysuru or southern Karnataka region. Shah met the present pontiff of the math Nirmalanandanatha Swami and offered prayers at the temple.
Shah also appreciated the efforts put in by maths and religious institutions in India towards ensuring a welfare society. Meanwhile, Opposition parties circulated a photo showing Shah sitting in cross legs and started making allegations that Shah was showing disrespect to the seer. However, hurt by these allegations, Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji had to issue a press statement saying that Shah had not seen him coming and when he saw him, he offered due respect and there was no need to make mountain of a mole hill and Shah never showed any disrespect to the seer.
