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PM projects himself, not jawans: HD Deve Gowda

JD(S) supremo feels LS polls won't be put off due to tension with Pak.

Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda, believes the Lok Sabha elections due in April/May are unlikely to be postponed as a result of the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan.

Mr Gowda, who was speaking to reporters in Hassan on Thursday, said the situation had not deteriorated so much that it required postponement of the Lok Sabha polls. The Election Commission, could, however, defer elections in Jammu and Kashmir, in his view.

Urging political leaders to stop the blame game, he advised them to stand by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this hour of crisis. But he was concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and accused Mr Modi of using the present tension for self-glorification rather than focusing on the soldiers, who had sacrificed their lives. "People of the country have been observing the developments and are intelligent enough to understand them," he maintained.

Recalling his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr Gowda said he had created an atmosphere in which the people of Jammu and Kashmir felt secure with the Union government. "People got employment and various projects were sanctioned for the valley. But now we are failing to maintain the integrity of the country. I have led this country in the past and cannot keep quiet when it is in dire straits."

Attacking Mr Modi further, he said he had been offensive in his governance from the day he assumed office and did not care for the opinion of the opposition parties.

On his choice of constituency for the coming Lok Sabha poll, Mr Gowda remained noncommittal, saying he had not decided on where to contest from as yet.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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