Sonia trains guns on JD (S)-BJP Government in Karnataka

Congress President Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the “opportunistic alliance” between JD (S) and BJP in Karnataka and promised that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) will announce a special package for the flood-hit state.

Addressing a mammoth public rally to mark the induction of former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah into the Congress, Sonia Gandhi said the JD (S), which had aligned with the Congress to form a coalition Government, had sacrificed the principles of secularism to join hands with the BJP.

She said the coalition Government, which had been besieged by corruption charges levelled by a member of its coalition partner BJP, had put development on the backburner. Local politics has come in the way of the progress of Karnataka, which had made remarkable strides in the field of IT, she said.

Rejecting the JD (S)-BJP Government’s charge that UPA was discriminating against Karnataka, Sonia Gandhi said the Federal Government had given a huge financial aid to the State Government to tackle the recent floods.

Sonia Gandhi, who is also the Chairperson of the UPA, said the Federal Government was aware of the sufferings of people in flood-hit states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. “The Government is planning to announce special financial package for flood-hit states like Karnataka”, he said.

Sonia Gandhi said the Congress party was hopeful that the women’s reservation bill will be passed in the Parliament soon. “Discussions are already underway among the partners of the UPA coalition. I am hopeful that it will come through”, she said.

She welcomed Siddaramaiah, who fell out with JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, into the Congress fold and expressed confidence that his entry will strengthen the party.

Curiously, Sonia Gandhi remained silent on the raging controversy over the border dispute between Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra.

A group of black flag-waving Kannada activists, who tried to gain entry into the venue of the public meeting at Palace Grounds in Bangalore, were stopped at the entrance and arrested. The Kannada activists were protesting against the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw a pro-Karnataka affidavit in connection with a case relating to the border dispute between the two states.

Meanwhile, the City of Bangalore was all decked up for Sonia Gandhi’s reception with large banners and posters put up all along her route from the airport to the Palace Grounds. An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 people from different parts of the state had converged at the Palace grounds for the rally.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy reacted bitterly to the Congress rally in Bangalore. “What is their achievement that was so macho that they are organizing a rally”, he told reporters.