Miffed JD(S) will still keep backing Congress

Bengaluru: A day after threatening to severe ties with the Congress in the BBMP council,  Janata Dal (Secular) supremo, H D Deve Gowda did a volte face and declared his party had no such intention.

Mr Gowda had warned of withdrawing his party's support after the ruling Congress refused its plea to support its candidate for the coming Rajya Sabha polls. His change of heart is  a huge relief for the Congress, which was worried about losing power in the BBMP.

Speaking to reporters here after the JD(S) parliamentary board meeting on Wednesday, Mr Gowda, however, made his displeasure clear at the Congress' refusal to support  his party candidate.  "It is true that our party does not have sufficient numbers in the  Assembly to send our candidate to the Rajya Sabha . On the one hand the Congress  talks about protection to minorities and on the other hand it has refused to back  B M Farooq for the Rajya Sabha," he deplored.

As for the Congress opening its doors to businessman-turned politician, Ashok Kheny, he demanded to  know why no action was taken against him despite a legislature committee recommending it.   In fact, the panel had favoured an inquiry by the CBI or ED into the deals of Mr Kheny's NICE company, he pointed out. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had promised to take suitable action against Mr Kheny but now he is silent.  I am not bothered even if the Congress makes Kheny the deputy chief minister. My only question is why the CM has not done what he promised on the floor of the House," he said, adding that his party would give a complaint to the Governor on the irregularities in the NICE deal and  launch a state-wide agitation.

Concerned by the attack on the Lokayukta, Mr Gowda wanted to know if there was a " Goonda Raj" in the state. "If there is no security for the Lokayuktha what about the common man? Law and order has completely collapsed," he charged.