Gowda downplays Modi's praise, says PM wants to gain sympathy
May 02, 2018 20:00
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lavished praise on him at an election rally in Karnataka, Janata Dal-Secular supremo H D Deve Gowda today sought to play it down, saying it did not mean both parties were cosying up to each other.
Gowda also slammed chief minister Siddaramaiah for suggesting that his party would back the Bharatiya Janata Party. He claimed that it was Siddaramaiah who wanted to become chief minister in 2004 with the saffron party support when he was in the JDS.
Virtually endorsing Modi's criticism of Rahul Gandhi for having 'insulted' him, the JDS supremo also said a Kannadiga had become prime minister and Siddaramaiah tried to "demolish" Kannadigas' pride.
"This is how Congress gives respect to Kannada pride," Gowda, who was the prime minister heading the United Front government at the centre during 1996-97, told a press conference in Bengaluru.
He asserted that the JD-S would come back to power in the May 12 polls, and discounted possibility of a hung assembly.
"Maybe, by praising me, he (the prime minister) wants to gain sympathy. That is all. That does not mean there is an" understanding (between BJP and JDS)," Gowda said.
"In fact, the JD-S is confident of forming the government on its own with the cooperation of Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu, Chandrasekhar Rao (of Telangana Rashtra Samithi) and other friends in political arena... I do not expect a hung assembly," he said.
"I have been saying this and I will say this"again -- we are confident of forming government on our own," the JDS chief"said.
In remarks that raised eyebrows in political circles, Modi, while launching the second leg of his campaign blitz for the assembly elections, had lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "insulting" Gowda, saying it showed his "arrogance".
Showering praise on Gowda at a rally in Udupi, the prime minister had said Gowda was one of the most respected and tallest leaders for whom he had great respect.
Modi's remarks relating to Gowda were seen as extending an olive branch to the JDS veteran to keep the options open for the BJP in the event of a hung verdict. -- PTI
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