Doing His Best: Deve Gowda Backs Ashwini Vaishnaw

JDS Supremo H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday came out in support of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is under fire after a horrific three-train collision in Odisha last week killed 278 people.

Deve Gowda said he believed Vaishnaw is working tirelessly to restore damage and demanding his resignation at this stage is not wise.

"The railway minister has taken necessary steps to restore damage that happened. He is working tirelessly for the last last 55 hours... I am watching. The inquiry by CBI is different... I am not going to comment on that... Congress leaders have taken some stand. My point is that politically motivated attacks shouldn't be made. Let the inquiry be completed. The minister is doing his best and demanding his resignation at this stage is not wise." Deve Gowda was quoted by news agency ANI.

Several opposition parties, including Congress have called for the rainway minister's resignation and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to acknowledge responsibility for perpetuating an illusion of normalcy despite the deteriorating condition of Indian Railways infrastructure.

The forme prime minister also said that he did not sound very optimistic about the ongoing efforts to forge an anti-BJP front nationally, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"I can analyse in detail about this country's politics, what is the use? Show me one party which has not associated with the BJP, either directly or indirectly. Show me one party in the whole country, then I will answer," Gowda said in response to a question about Bihar CM Nitish Kumar trying to forge an anti BJP front at the national level.

Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had called a meeting of opposition parties in Patna on June 12. The decision was taken after several leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Stalin and the chief of another party had expressed their inability to be present on June 12. A new date will be fixed soon.