Bengaluru: Taking a dig at BJP allegations of his party indulging in horse-trading, Chief Minister Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy said the BJP leaders should not take him lightly, as he had tied up Mr Modi and Mr Amit Shah's horse, and stopped their ‘Ashwamedha’ in Karnataka.
During his maiden press conference after taking over as chief minister, Mr Kumaraswamy said that his reply to all criticism would come when he proves his majority in the house on Friday.
In a fighting speech alongside a largely silent deputy chief minister Dr G. Parameshwar, he said “There have been a lot of criticism on social media also. BJP will get reply for all their holy and unholy comments on the floor of the house itself.'' Confessing to being behind the instability of the state in his previous stint as chief minister, Mr Kumaraswamy said: "The basis for questioning the longevity of the government is 2004. I was the reason for the instability in 2004 and there were many reasons for me to take that step. I don't want to go into all those issues now. What I have done in the last 12 years and what my contribution was for sinking the BJP and how I made it possible for them to open the door in the South, all that would be answered in the Assembly."
Exuding confidence that the coalition would last the full five years and not the three months that the BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa gave it, Mr Kumaraswamy said that Dr Parameshwar was "one of the most understanding people," he knew and that he would "take care not to displease him."
Reiterating his earlier statement that he was a “child of the situation”, for changing this decision to sit in the opposition if he was not voted to power, Mr Kumaraswamy said that he had to take the decision based on advise given by many leaders in the country.
“This is the first time in the history of the country, where more than 20 CMs, former CMs and national leaders participated in a swearing in ceremony. This is a new development. It is a new challenge. Every step should be taken carefully. The coalition should become a model for entire country. I have to live up to expectation of these national leaders,'' Mr Kumaraswamy added.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Mr Modi, who had assured the farmers that he would resolve the Mahadayi issue within three months after the elections, Mr Kumarswamy said that "Modi was telling lies, again and again."
"Now also, he did the same and people voted for BJP. He could have intervened before the Tribunal delivered the judgement. Instead, he made it an election issue and he has done the same with the Cauvery issue also", he said.
In a direct attack on some of the pontiffs who have been critical of his move to forge an alliance with the Congress, Mr Kumaraswamy said that the seers should understand that he was not here for caste politics.
“I don't recognise anyone by their caste. This government is for every caste and every community, as per the saying of Sri Basavanna. Some of the pontiffs have criticised the coalition government. Instead of that, let them come directly to politics,'' he said.
"The duty of pontiffs is not to talk politics. They are teachers and should guide the government in right direction. Pontiffs should stop making political statements,'' he added.
Reacting to BJP allegations that Mr Kumaraswamy had taken a U-turn over farmer loan waiver issue, Mr Kumaraswamy said that there was no change in his promise. “I had said that the loan would be waived of within 24 hours of coming to power, if JD(S) was voted to power. Since it is coalition government, I need to take Congress party into confidence and it would be done after convincing Congress leaders. I want to make Economists to understand that waiving farm loan will not send state economy to tailspin. The credit of waiving farm loan will go to Congress also,'' he said.
Reacting to separate religious status for Lingayat-Veerashaiva issue, Mr Kumaraswamy said that it was a complicated issue and he would give more importance to that. However, he would not allow organisations to come out on the streets and agitate. Even on Justice Sadashiva Commission report on Dalit issue, a consensus decision with Congress would be taken, he said.
