Deve Gowda blaming Cong to cover up mistakes: Siddaramaiah

Bangalore, Oct 30 (UNI) Congress leader and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today alleged that the Janata Dal (Secular) President H D Deve Gowda was ''unnecessarily'' blaming the Congress for the present political turmoil in the state to cover up his ''misdeeds.'' Talking to newspersons here, he said the charge levelled by Mr Gowda that Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna, had come to meet the Congress leaders and was engaged in ''politicking'' to split the JD(S), was baseless and far from truth.

''Mr Gowda is dragging the Congress to cover up the mistakes committed by him and his sons,'' Mr Siddaramaiah alleged.

He charged that it was Mr Gowda, who had indulged in ''splitting'' the party with ''selfish motive'' since 1980. He took the help of Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav to become the Prime Minister, but went to the extent of filing a CBI inquiry against him with the help of JD (U) President Sharad Yadav.

Mr Gowda was responsible not only for splitting Janata Dal and expelling Ramakrishna Hegde but also for the fall of the S R Bommai Government by purchasing Legislators,'' he alleged saying that he had become ''untrustworthy'' at the national politics.

To another question, Mr Siddaramaiah came down heavily on the proposed joint agitation by BJP and JD(S) tomorrow in front of Raj Bhavan for the inordinate delay by the Governor.

''Pressure tactics should not be adopted in the present situation,'' he felt.

UNI