Kalladka communal clashes result of Cong-BJP ‘match fixing’, claims HDK

Mangaluru, Jun 19: The communal clashes that occur in Kalladka and other parts of Dakshina Kannada are a result of “match fixing” between the Congress and BJP to consolidate their voter base, according to former Chief Minister and JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy.

Speaking to media persons in the city on Sunday, Mr Kumaraswamy said that the Kalladka clashes were nothing but attempts by both the parties to make gains through disturbances. He said communal clashes appear to intensify in Dakshina Kannada every time an election is near.

He said the BJP and Congress might succeed in consolidating their voter base, but many innocent families and individuals suffer because of the clashes and the hatred. Instead of focussing on clashes, the national parties should have concentrated on alleviating the plight of farmers, he said.

No alliance

Mr Kumaraswamy, who had forged alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party several times in the past, said that there was no question of partnering with the BJP or the Congress either before or after next year’s Assembly elections. “JD(S) is not in need of support from the Congress or the BJP, but they do,” he said.

Referring to the recent no-confidence motion passed by the Congress against Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy, he said the Congress did not ask for the support of JD(S) in the beginning stage. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wanted Shankaramurthy to step down from the post of the Chairman of Legislative Council. The Congress had thought they would pass the non-confidence motion with the support of their independent MLAs. But their plan turned upside down, Kumaraswamy said.

He said that may be Yeddyurappa also didn’t want Shankaramurthy to continue as the Chairman of the Council and that was why he did not seek the JD(S)’ support. “We do not need to learn a lesson of secularism from Siddaramaiah. He is always involved in caste-based politics which is evident in his decisions.”

After iftar Mr Kumaraswamy does iftar with other JD(S) leaders incuding B M Farooq, Amarnath Shetty and Akshith Suvarna.