'BJP politicising the backwardness of HK Region: Dharam Singh

Gulbarga, Sep 18 (UNI) Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress leader N Dharam Singh today alleged that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is trying to take political milege by politicising the backwardness of Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

Refuting the allegations by Mr Yeddyurappa that Congress stalwarts who hailed from the region were responsible for the backwarness of the region, he said that "the BJP instead of evolving a strategy for the development of the region, is politicising the issue." Talking to newsmen here, he said that during his tenure as Chief Minister he had led an all party delegation to the Centre to appeal to the Prime Minister to amend Article 371 to give special status to the region on the lines of Vidharba.

Mr Singh alleged that Mr Yeddyurappa has failed in tackling flood situation and pointed that the Chief Minister did not even visit the Bidar district which was affected by floods recently. "The Chief Minister had given priority to provide funds in those areas where by-elections for the Legislative Assembly were due following opposition party legislators joining his (BJP) party." Referring to Mr Yeddyurappa's critisism that the Congress leaders did not attend the Liberation Day function yesterday, Mr Singh clarified that they were not invited in a proper manner for the programme. "The programmes was held as if it was a BJP party programmes", he alleged.

Replying to a question, Mr Singh made it clear that he was not against appointment of Mr Siddaramaiah as KPCC President. "I only stated to the Party High Command to pickup a deserved candidate for the post." UNI DP MSP TS1646