H D Deve Gowda can't lead march to Kalladka

Hassan: JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda’s plans to lead a march from Mangaluru to Kalladka to restore communal harmony in Dakshina Kannada district has been stymied by the deputy commissioner in view of the law and order situation. 

Disclosing this to the media here, the former PM said he was scheduled to lead the three-KM march on July 15. Seers, freedom fighters, intellectuals and others were invited to participate in the non-political march. “I had instructed (party workers) not to use any party flags and posters along the route. Being a former Prime Minister, I am well aware of maintaining law and order, and so I will never try to violate it,” he added. 

On the peace meeting chaired by Dakshina Kannada district in charge minister Ramanath Rai held today, Mr Gowda wondered whether the meeting would help in restoring peace in the district, “I do not know if Ramanath Rai’s meeting brings back normalcy, then it is a good development,” he added. 

Lashing out at leaders of both BJP and Congress, Mr Gowda criticized them for indulging in a blame game instead of initiating steps to restore normalcy in the district. “Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin,” he remarked sarcastically.

Earlier this week, state unit president H D Kumaraswamy had invited leaders of BJP and Congress to join the march in order to restore peace and communal harmony in coastal districts.