Minimal response for bandh call, clear message to Yeddi: Ivan D'souza

Mangaluru: “People have rejected the bandh call by Yeddyurappa and BJP. His attempt to create tension across the state and encourage violence has failed. By this the people of the state have shown their support to Kumaraswamy-led coalition government,”said Congress MLC Ivan D Souza.

MLC D Souza slammed B S Yeddyurappa and the BJP for misguiding the people of Karnataka and creating confusion in society by calling for Karnataka shutdown here on Monday May 28.

“Congress and the JD(S) never told that they would waive farmer loans. There are certain formalities for it. First of all it is a coalition government and we have to sit together and discuss before taking any decisions. Without forming a cabinet it is not easy to declare it. At the same time we have to evaluate the current financial situation of the state. To waive the loans, we need fifty percent of amount fixed in the budget. So Chief Minister will hold meetings with various departments and take a decision in favour of the farmers,” he informed.

“Earlier Jagadish Shettar and BJP leaders said that if state government waives the loans taken from local banks, Modi government was ready to waive loans borrowed from nationalized banks. When Siddaramaiah government waived loans of farmers borrowed from local banks, BJP led central government failed to keep up the promise and the state BJP leaders too failed to convince their national leaders in this regard. On what morality they are speaking on behalf of farmers? The farmers themselves have not supported the BJP and Yeddyurappa. They have realized that the BJP is trying to gain profit in farmers’ name,” he added.

“The farmers and the people of Karnataka know how a coalition government functions. They are ready to give some time to the government to fulfill their demands. So Yeddyurappa’s plans will not work and poor response to today’s bandh itself proves it,” he said.

“The BJP is engaged in criticizing the Congress and JD(S) for forming the government. Governor gave a chance to Yeddyurappa to form the government on the basis of majority. But he ran away from trust vote. It clearly shows that he had no trust on his MLAs. Later Governor invited us and we formed government. What was wrong in it?” he questioned.

“K Manjunath is our teachers’ constituency candidate and Dinesh will contest for graduates’ constituency. In the last election both the candidates were defeated with small margin of votes. But this time they will win the battle,” he said, reacting on teachers’ and graduates’ constituency elections.