Never brand any one community as terrorist: Deve Gowda

Bangalore, July 26 (UNI) Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) National President H D Deve Gowda today took strong exception to branding any particular community for terrorists activities.

Speaking at a function organised to welcome the party fold about 6,000 people belonging to Muslim community from Bellary, he said ''Global political leaders should not brand any one community or caste as supporters of terrorism since the act of terrorists has no religion or caste attached to it. In Assam 80 people were massacred and they had been trained to Bajrang Dal. I strongly condemn the people who are behind such branding.'' Mr Gowda called upon the youth to strongly oppose any such branding, and work towards building a prosperous nation.

''Youth should not get disheartened by such branding, but work towards building India into a strong country'', he added.

Referring to his party remaining neutral in the Presidential election, Mr Gowda said, ''I took decision to maintain equidistance from National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and United Progressive Alliance (UPA), since I know the inside-out of both the groups. I will never compromise with any party on election issue and I will stick to party principles''.

He said if national leaders were really concerned, they should protect all those people who were suffering, irrespective of caste.

Mr Gowda said he would never accept defeat in his political life, despite party's defeat in the elections. ''JD-S might have lost the Ullal and Chamundeswari bypolls in Karnataka but it has been gaining strength and attracting leaders from other parties,'' he said.

Alleging that efforts were made by different political parties to wipe out JD-S, Mr Gowda called upon his party workers and leaders to fight against any such move and expose 'evil designs'.

UNI