'Let Cong withdraw its candidate if it is secular'

Mangalore, May 27: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today challenged the Congress party to withdraw its candidate from June two Ullal assembly byelection, if it (Congress) was really believed in secularism.

"Congress leaders instead of blaming Janata Dal (Secular) should ask their candidate to withdraw and help JD(S) instead of asking us to withdraw our candidate", Mr Kumaraswamy told newsmen here.

Asking the Congress leaders to show their commitment to the secularism, Mr Kumaraswamy said that "let Congress leaders make self-introspect as to how it had finished secular parties after using them for their benefit in the past. Today with the awareness created among the people the status of the national parties has gone down to the State level and the credit for this should go to Congress." Mr Kumaraswamy said that JD(S) has taken the Ullal byelection seriously and there was no question any kind of compromise on secular issues with any party. "Both Congress and BJP are equal enemies for JD(S), the Congress should understand JD(S) commitment to secular principles." The Chief Minister asked the Congress to stop talking lightly about former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda who never in his life sacrificed secular principles for which he has devoted his entire life.

UNI