Mangaluru, Mar 6: Launching a tirade against the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, former Chief Minister and JD(S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said that both the national parties have been indulging in divisive politics, sidelining development of the State.
Interacting with a select group of achievers in different fields here, Mr. Kumaraswamy, said the government its officials should act as per the requirement of a majority of the populace irrespective of caste and religion, and should not function in a fashion to merely appease a small section of people.
Claiming that during his 20-month tenure as chief minister, there was not a single incident of communal strife in the State, he said that said the government should act sternly whenever there are attacks on religion and faith. “We should not tolerate communal forces,” he said.
"I was chief minister for 20 months and there was not a single communal flare-up during my tenure. If I am elected as CM again, peace and tolerance in the coastal districts will be my top priority. Even if it is an MP or MLA instigating violence, I will take action against him and put an end to the fear in the minds of the people. You have given all a chance, now please give me an opportunity to serve you," he appealed.
He called upon the citizens to be more proactive and not assume that their responsibility is over after exercising their franchise once in five years. “A conducive environment should be created where the government can truly act according to the wishes of the people," he said.
"People in the coast want to restore peace but violence is being instigated by a few individuals. It is the duty of the government to check activities of anti-social elements. When there was a law and order problem in a particular district, then the Chief Minister should have invited members of leaders of the community and discussed a solution to check the unrest. If he had discussed the matter with people then I am sure a solution would have emerged," he said.
"Failing to initiate action against Gaurakshaks and miscreants who instigate communal issues in the district shows the weakness of the state government. It was the duty of the government to initiate action against those who speak ill of other religions," he felt.
"In the name of protection of cattle, Gaurakshaks have raised their ugly head. They should be asked to rear cattle. Will they accept to rear a cow? he asked. There are different food habits in the country. Do not try to disturb the peace on issues of food habits," he requested.
Kumaraswamy said that changing the Constitution is impossible as Dr B R Ambedkar has made it robust. "No government can change the Constitution of the country," he said while replying to a query.
The kidnapped schoolboy was rescued by the police and reunited with his parents. Son of a gift shop owner from Basavanagudi area in Bengaluru, Chirag has reportedly told police that decided to make some quick money to spend on cricket betting and gambling after learning kidnap tricks from the ‘Crime Patrol’. According to police, Chirag reached a private school around 3pm on Tuesday on a Bounce rental bike and zeroed in on a fourth standard student who was walking out of school. He told the boy he was his father's friend and that he required help to search for a relative who had gone missing. The boy believed Chirag and rode pillion on the bike. Chirag then engaged the boy in conversation and learnt about his father's business and got his mobile phone number. He then made a call to the boy's father, demanded Rs 5 lakh and warned him against approaching cops. However, the boy's father alerted Cottonpet police and special teams were formed to crack the case. While Cottonpet inspector Venkatesh TC's squad verified CCTV footage in and around the school, Chamarajpet inspector BG Kumaraswamy's team started tracking the suspect's mobile phone movements. An hour later, the suspect's location was traced to a hotel on the Lavelle Road-St Mark's Road stretch. Police rushed there, rescued the boy and arrested Chirag.
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voting JD(S) this time..
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