Mangalore : JD(S) party workers district level meeting held at Shanti Nilaya Mangalore here on Wednesday Nov 5. Former Prime Minister and JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda inaugurated the the party workers meet.  

After inaugurating the meeting Devegowda said,  he will visit all the 224 legislative assembly constituencies in the State in order to strengthen the party. The party which has less strength in districts like Dakshina Kannada, needs to be rejuvenated. He said that he will meet all senior leaders of the party, who have not been active in the JD(S) today and who are present in nooks and corners of the State in this regard. “Many leaders from this region had been with me in building JD(S). I will venture into each taluk for this purpose,” he said.

Without mentioning any name, Deve Gowda said that during the tenure of his son H D Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister in the state, Kumaraswamy had to regret for believing in some people. However, it lead to self realisation later, he said.

Kumaraswamy will also work towards re-establishing the identity of the regional party, he said and added that the base of the party is still stronger.

The former prime minister said that he had reviewed the situation of coconut and areca crop loss in the district and had called upon the officials. The officials concerned have said that they have submitted reports to the Central and state government, but the compensation has not been released so far.

Also, seven districts were badly hit due to excess rains. Farmers in Chikmagalur have incurred heavy loss in onion crop. The condition of tobacco growers in Piriyapattana, Arkalgud, Hunsur and other places have been pathetic, Gowda said and added that he will discuss the problems of the farmers in the State with the Prime Minister.

Deve Gowda expressed hope on the constitution amendment bill proposed by him during his tenure as the Prime Minister in 1995, towards 33 per cent reservation to women, getting passed in the upcoming winter session of the parliament.

The bill remained pending during the tenure of Atal Behari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, he said.

Deve Gowda said that the selection of JD(S) State President will be done within two weeks from now and women will be given the priority. Also, the office-bearers and taluk unit Presidents of JD(S) will be reappointed in two to three months, towards restructuring the party, he said. Meanwhile, he alleged that the national parties like BJP and Congress have been suppressing the regional parties and reiterated that the regional parties should be saved.

Stating that he welcomes the Swacch Bharath Abhiyan initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that one should not jump to the conclusion that he welcomes prime minister’s all moves. Swacch Bharath was the need of the nation as people’s health is being adversely affected owing to non hygienic conditions. “Hence I took part in the programme and there are no political motives involved behind me supporting the programme,” he clarified.

Deve Gowda said that there has been rapid increase in daytime murder cases and atrocity against women, during the last one and a half year. The state government has failed in fulfilling its responsibility in maintaining law and order, he said.

To another query, he said there was no question of asking the people who have left the party for the sake of power, to come back.

To a question on black money, he said: “Let the government retrieve the tax-evaded money and disproportionate money accumulated through land mafia and mines mafia first”.

JDS leader Amarnath Shetty, M B Sadashiva, Vittal Mohammad Kunhi, Vasantha Poojary, S.P. Chengappa, city corporator, Aziz and others were present on this occasion.