From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 9: Going hammer and tongs at BJP for projecting itself as the sole guardian and protector of Hindu religion or as the custodians of Hindu culture, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Dr G Parameshwara on Tuesday asked BJP not to be under the false impression that it is the sole protector of Hindus or custodian of Hindu culture.

Addressing a news conference at the Congress Bhavan, he said majority of the people of India were Hindus and fully aware of the Hindu religious texts including Gita and Ramayana. But no political party nor organisation can claim to be sole protectors, guardians of Hindu religion or custodians of Hindu culture, he said.

The KPCC Chief said as the State was getting set for the assembly elections and the people were getting ready to exercise their democratic right, some quarters are trying desperately to shift the arguments away from facts, performances, and quality of life, to fear, restlessness, and myth.

"However, I know that the people of Karnataka are mature enough to judge the performance of Congress government during the last five years. This current government has delivered on almost all the pre-poll promises made in the 2013 election manifesto," he said.

Dr Parameshwara said Congress government in the State fulfilled all its promises without a single corruption scandal, unlike the five-year BJP rule from 2008 to 2013 that saw three chief ministers, imposition of President’s Rule, and ministers quitting office on corruption and rape charges.

"BJP’s only strategy to win in Karnataka is through fear tactics and communal polarisation as can be seen in the current situation in the coastal parts of the State," he said pointing out that "Lies and rumours are their (BJP’s) tools, and they are using social media platforms to spread communal hatred against communities and mobilise people to participate in communal violence.

He claimed that on any human development indices, Karnataka under the Congress government has improved far more than a BJP ruled state in the same period.

The KPCC Chief quoted a recent article in the Wire magazine titled ‘Bari Olu Modi,’ which compared Karnataka’s development parameters to BJP states like Gujarat and UP, and concluded that not only has Karnataka improved drastically, it has taken over a richer state like Gujarat and is now more prosperous than before.

While Congress agenda has always been development and inclusive growth without discrimination of caste, creed, or colour, BJP is focussed on a narrow communal agenda by inciting people to violence and religious enmity. People are mature enough to understand who divides society and who stands for development.

Dr Parameshwara said BJP and its followers in Karnataka will go to any lengths to win an election, including sacrificing the truly federal nature of our country where states have powers to do the best for their citizens. The Demonetisation and GST are examples of this.

"Demonetisation was pushed through by the BJP led central government without any consultation from the state governments and other economic experts, and it caused immense distress to the most vulnerable of our citizens.
Old people, women, marginalised communities like transgender persons, daily wage workers, small traders were affected the most, and are continuing to suffer despite the central government’s glowing reports. Newspapers have reported how the demonetisation scheme was a massive failure and the RBI has still not come out with official numbers for a programme that deprived the people of Karnataka, and the people of India, of their hard-earned, lawful money," he explained.

The hurried and botched rollout of GST, which was not tested at all, has caused our innumerable small businessmen, traders, and self- employed youth, severe problems and created more expenses than good, he said.

"Demonetisation and GST together has caused our strong Indian economy to lose its momentum, and GDP growth for the year 2016-2017 has reduced by 2%. The human cost of such a move can never be calculated," he said.

Pro-People, Inclusive Growth and Development

The KPCC Chief said the series of pro-people programmes offered by Government such as Anna Bhagya for migrant labourers, Indira canteens, increase in the remunerations given to the SC/STs, incentives to dairy farmers, impetus to irrigation and agriculture, efforts to renew employment reservation and many others have won the hearts and imagination of the people and put the Congress in the good books of the citizens of the State.

Bengaluru ranks among 25 best hi-Tech cities in the world. Timely government-intervention and policies have created a good eco-system for business in the State, he said pointing out that Karnataka is a progressive State wedded to secular and egalitarian credentials with the people being tolerant and loving as also cosmopolitan and forward looking in outlook.

"It is, therefore, tough ground for BJP, which is attempting to spew communal venom and win over the people," he said asserting that "they are overlooking the ethos of the State and the development agenda."

Dr Parameshwara said the people of Karnataka are wise enough to see for themselves how BJP leaders in the State like Ananth Kumar Hegde, Pratap Simha, Shobha Karandlaje, B S Yeddyurappa, K S Eshwarappa, and even Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananada Gowda have shed their masks after the recent visits of BJP National President Amit Shah.

"These so called leaders, who despite their seniority in the party, are willing to sacrifice their own position and the state of Karnataka. They have polarised the people and caused irreparable damage to the State’s peaceful and harmonious fabric, by instigating communal tension and violence," he alleged.

People of the coastal parts of Karnataka have seen how a highly literate and enterprising image of the region has been besmirched giving it a bad name and reputation all over the country, he said pointing out that BJP and its affiliate organisations have a history of triggering communal violence and playing dirty politics over the dead bodies of people to suit their narrow and sectarian agenda.

The KPCC Chief said the people of Karnataka are mature enough to make suitable choices. If BJP continues to play the communal card, it is only going to make life easier and simpler for us over the next few months as the people will see through the game. Any amount of micro-management and strategies will not affect the Congress party’s prospects because delivering on all electoral promises is what the people know and trust the party for.

Congress Manifesto

The Congress manifesto will again be people-centric. It will have two parts dealing with the achievements of Congress-led government in the last five years and the promises for next five years encompassing the needs based on the socio-economic and political issues.

"We do not believe in making tall promises that we cannot keep and later fool the people by dismissing them as "Jumlas!" he said.

There will be five major assurances that would benefit the majority of people in the State in the manifesto after thorough interaction with key people of different sections including academicians, industrialists, businessmen, advocates, media and the youth besides all other stakeholders including women and professionals, he said.

The KPCC Chief made it clear that the manifesto will form the core of the poll campaign. It will be the sacrosanct document like the Gita, Quran and Bible.

"We want to carry people of all religion and castes together as we respect and honour our Constitution as we pay our homage to Mahatma Gandhi, Dr B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and all our national leaders including religious sages like Basavanna, Kanakadasa, and Purandaradasa," he said.

Rahul Gandhi to have Positive Impact

Congress party will draw its inspiration and strength in its electioneering from its national leaders with the newly elected, young and dynamic AICC President Rahul Gandhi playing a dominant role in the campaign along with other key leaders in the part, Dr Parameshwara said.

The Congress poll campaign will have a positive impact and enthuse all the party rank and file to pitch in with their best efforts to ensure that the Congress party returns to power with even a bigger mandate in Karnataka.

"For a healthy and vibrant nation, and a functioning democracy that serves the people, trust in the system and trust in leaders is most important. The people of Karnataka have seen the results for themselves. Today, not only is Karnataka one of the most welfare-oriented, productive state, it is also the fasted growing State as a direct result of Congress administration," he said.

Dr Parameshwara said: "The people of Karnataka can distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong, and know which party can take them forward and Congress party will be victorious."