Devegowd kicks off campaign in Karnataka, vows to bring back Muslim reservation

BENGALURU: Janata Dal Secular (JDS) supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda on Monday hit the campaign for his party nominees starting from Sira Assembly seat in Tumakuru district and vowed to bring back reservation for Muslims in Karnataka which has been taken away by the Bharatiya Janata Party led State Government.

“I have not let down Muslims and have resolved Idgah maidan row in Hubballi among others,” Devegowda recalled and stated that he has four years of term as a Rajya Sabha member and would also strive hard to get women’s reservation Bill passed in Lok Sabha as well.

Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Devegowda said “Modi says women’s reservation is of paramount importance but what has he done?” and pointed out that the Women's Reservation Bill has been passed in Rajya Sabha and needs to be passed in Lok Sabha as well. Gowda assured to strive for the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill.

He told the gathering in Sira town that he is aware of the living conditions of the people of Sira and adjoining areas which fall under Central Karnataka and assured that if JDS voted to power in the State in the ensuing elections that every households of the region which are water parched would get drinking water from Upper Bhadra Project.

“I am 91 years old and will tour the seats fixed by JDS leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy till May 8 when campaigning for the ensuing Assembly comes to an end,” stated Devegowda.

Gowda said that his son and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has been hospitalized in Bengaluru and doctors attending him have advised rest for him and that he would resume his campaigning in the State in a couple of days.

The former Prime Minister said that Kumaraswamy has been Chief Minister twice and he dreams of upliftment of poor rather than ascending CM’s post and wants to serve the poor man who have burdened nowadays and stated that Kumaraswamy as CM fulfilled his assurance of farm loan waiver.