Congress unleashing 'draconian rule', alleges Gowda

Mysore, Dec 1 (UNI) Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal(Secular) President H D Deve Gowda today alleged that the Congress was behind the Election Commission (EC) reprimanding Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Addressing a public meeting in connection with the December four Chamundeswari Assembly segment bypoll, he alleged that the Congress, leading the UPA government at the Centre, had imposed an undeclared emergency in the country and was unleashing a ''draconian rule''. He accused the EC of adopting double standards and targeting the JD(S) allegedly on the instructions of the UPA government.

Accusing the Congress leaders of humiliating him and other leaders of his party, the JD(S) chief asked the party workers to remain calm on the polling day and not to react to the provocations of other parties.

Mr Gowda refused to blame UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the recent developments, stating that some Congress leaders both at the Centre and the State were misguiding her.

He said that despite his initial objections to form the JD(S)-BJP coalition, he now ''whole heartedly'' supported his son and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. This was because of the Congress, which as a partner in the previous government with his party, was trying to finish off JD(S).

Referring to protests in Maharashtra over desecration of an Ambedkar statue in Kanpur, he said the incidents happening in Union Home Minister Shivaraj Patil's State indicated the failure of the Congress-led government in protecting the interests of Dalits.

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