Bengaluru: JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday ruled out any tie up with the BJP ahead of the Karnataka assembly polls, scheduled to be held on May 12.
Talking to journalists, he said, “A Kannadiga had become the Prime Minister. How Siddaramaiah tried to hurt the Kannadigas pride, taking that as a background, the Prime Minister said this is how the Congress gives respect to Kannadigas, this doesn’t mean gathbandhan.”
While addressing a public gathering in Karnataka on May 1, Modi had attacked Rahul for “insulting” Gowda and said: “I heard the Congress president speak at political rallies 15-20 days ago… the way he referred to respected Deve Gowda ji… is this your culture (sanskar)? This is arrogance. Deve Gowda is among the tallest leaders of the country.”
Modi had also showered praise on Deve Gowda and slammed the Congress president for speaking disapprovingly against the JD(S). Rahul had termed the JD(S) as “B team of BJP.”
Earlier reacting to Prime Minister’s pro-Deve Gowda statement, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on twitter that “the PM has suddenly discovered love and respect for Deve Gowda. Modi had not long ago said he will send Deve Gowda to a retirement home. Is this new love a sign of not so secret understanding between BJP and JD(S)?”
